Standard Lemma guide

flabbergast

noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈflæbə(ˌ)ɡɑːst/
  • General-American: flăb′ər-găst'
  • General-American: /ˈflæbɚˌɡæst/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: F L AE1 B ER0 G AE2 S T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An awkward person.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dork, dweeb, geek, flabbergast, flabagast, flabaghast, gink, nerd, Nigel, nosebleed

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Overwhelming confusion, shock, or surprise.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Examples

  • His flabbergast was so great he couldn’t even come up with a plausible answer.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: astonishment, astoundedness, awe, dumbfoundedness, flabbergaster, flabbergastation, flabbergastment, stupefaction, bafflement, befuddlement, bemusement, bewilderment, confusion, flabbergast, misunderstanding, muddle, mix-up, noncomputation, quagmire, amazement, shock, surprise

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To overwhelm with bewilderment; to amaze, confound, or stun, especially in a ludicrous manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • He was flabbergasted to find that his work had been done for him before he began.
  • Her stupidity flabbergasts me, and I have to force myself to keep a straight face while she explains her beliefs.
  • The oddity of the situation was so flabbergasting I couldn’t react in time for anyone to see it.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: flabbergaster

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

overcome with amazement

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • This boggles the mind!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: boggle, bowl over

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: surprise

History

Etymology

The origin of the verb is uncertain; possibly dialectal (Suffolk), from flabby or flap (“to strike”) + aghast. The word may be related to Scottish flabrigast (“to boast”) or flabrigastit (“worn out with exertion”). The noun is derived from the verb.

Across languages

Translations

35 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: Verblüffung — overwhelming confusion, shock, or surprise — see also astonishment
  • German: Erstaunen — overwhelming confusion, shock, or surprise — see also astonishment
  • Bulgarian: поразявам (porazjavam) — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Bulgarian: слисвам (slisvam) — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Czech: ohromit — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Dutch: verbluffen — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Estonian: pahviks lööma — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Finnish: ällistyttää — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • French: époustoufler — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • German: verblüffen — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • German: erstaunen — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • German: baff sein — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • German: platt sein — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • German: abschnallen — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • German: aus allen Wolken fallen — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Greek: αφήνω άναυδο (afíno ánavdo) — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Greek: αφήνω εμβρόντητο (afíno emvróntito) — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Greek: σαστίζω (sastízo) — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Greek: καταπλήσσω (kataplísso) — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Hungarian: megdöbbent — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Hungarian: elképeszt — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Italian: sorprendere — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Italian: stupire — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Italian: impressionare — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Italian: colpire — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Italian: sbalordire — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Norwegian Bokmål: forbløffe — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Russian: изумля́ть (izumljátʹ) — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Russian: изумѝть (izumìtʹ) — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Russian: ошара́шить (ošarášitʹ) — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Russian: поража́ть (poražátʹ) — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Russian: поразѝть (porazìtʹ) — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Russian: удивля́ть (udivljátʹ) — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Russian: удивѝть (udivìtʹ) — to overwhelm with bewilderment
  • Swedish: förbluffa — to overwhelm with bewilderment