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"Astonished" vs. "surprised": nuances of delight and disbelief

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 01/10/2024, 02:46

English.me team member

Astonished and surprised. What's the difference?

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?

Internet search results for astonished) and surprised

Examples of usage

Astonished

She was astonished by the magician's tricks.
We were astonished to find out we had won the lottery.

Surprised

He was surprised to see her at the party.
I was surprised by how quickly the time passed.