Standard Lemma guide

stupefaction

noun · 5 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.

  • /ˌstjʊu̯pəˈfækʃən/ without the yod-coalescence
  • [ˌstjʊu̯pəˈfækʃən] ~ [ˌstjʊu̯pəˈfækʃn̩] without the yod-coalescence
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • /ˌst͡ʃʊu̯pəˈfækʃən/ yod-coalescence
  • [ˌst͡ʃʊu̯pəˈfækʃən] ~ [ˌst͡ʃʊu̯pəˈfækʃən] yod-coalescence
  • /ˌstuːpəˈfækʃən/ General American, yod-dropping
  • [ˌstʊu̯pəˈfækʃən] ~ [ˌstʊu̯pəˈfækʃn̩] General American, yod-dropping
  • rhymes with -ækʃən

1

noun

Meaning 1

The state of extreme shock or astonishment.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A state of insensibility; stupor.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

the action of stupefying; making dull or lethargic

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the professor was noted for his stupefaction of the students

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: action

4

noun

Meaning 4

marginal consciousness

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • his grogginess was caused as much by exhaustion as by the blows
  • someone stole his wallet while he was in a drunken stupor

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: grogginess, stupor, semiconsciousness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: unconsciousness

5

noun

Meaning 5

a feeling of stupefied astonishment

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: astonishment, amazement

Narrower terms: daze, shock, stupor

History

Etymology

From Middle French stupéfaction, from Latin stupefaciō (“strike dumb, stun with amazement, stupefy”), from stupeō (“to be stunned, speechless”) (English stupid, stupor) + faciō (“to do, make”).

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: замайване (zamajvane) — the state of dismay; shock
  • Bulgarian: зашеметяване (zašemetjavane) — the state of dismay; shock
  • German: Benommenheit — the state of dismay; shock
  • German: Schock — the state of dismay; shock
  • German: Betäubung — the state of dismay; shock
  • German: Bestürzung — the state of dismay; shock
  • Ancient Greek: κατάνυξις (katánuxis) — the state of dismay; shock
  • Russian: остолбене́ние (ostolbenénije) — the state of dismay; shock
  • Russian: оцепене́ние (ocepenénije) — the state of dismay; shock
  • Russian: сту́пор (stúpor) — the state of dismay; shock
  • Ottoman Turkish: شاشقینلق (şaşkınlık) — the state of dismay; shock