Amaze
v.joyful, hopefuleveryday
What it means
To cause such strong surprise or wonder that attention briefly stops.
Reach for it when describing an impressive result that exceeds normal expectation
The tiny choir continues to amaze visitors with its rich sound.
Choose between these
7- playful
brief, lively enthusiasm fits an informal audience
not when Wow weakens the credibility of a serious evaluation.
- everyday
astonish
the surprise should feel sudden and powerful
not when Astonish can describe an unwelcome shock as readily as delight.
- warm
pleasure matters more than disbelief
not when A delightful result can be entirely expected.
- professional
skill or quality earns considered approval
not when Impress may involve no surprise at all.
- formal
astound
the scale of surprise deserves a forceful verb
not when Astound sounds excessive for a modest personal compliment.
- formal
inspire awe
wonder should be joined with deep respect
not when Awe is too solemn for a clever party trick.
- literary
take your breath away
beauty creates an intense physical-feeling response
not when This image is melodramatic for a technical achievement.
Said against
3- bore
- underwhelm
- disappoint
It naturally appears in
3- never cease to amaze
Migrating swallows never cease to amaze the young naturalists.
- amaze the audience
The final illusion will amaze the audience without frightening them.
- continue to amaze
These resilient seedlings continue to amaze the research team.
The word family
2Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English verb sense: fill with great surprise opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.