"Astonished" vs. "surprised": nuances of delight and disbelief
Reviewed and edited by
Lloyd Cooper 01/10/2024, 02:46
English.me team member

What is similar?
Both "astonished" and "surprised" describe a reaction to something unexpected or unusual.
What is different?
"Astonished" implies a stronger, more overwhelming sense of disbelief compared to "surprised", which is milder and more common.
Which one is more common?

Examples of usage
Astonished- She was astonished by the magician's tricks.
- We were astonished to find out we had won the lottery.
- He was surprised to see her at the party.
- I was surprised by how quickly the time passed.