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Astonished vs. surprised: what’s the difference?

The short answer

Astonished implies a stronger, more overwhelming sense of disbelief compared to surprised, which is milder and more common.

What they have in common

Both astonished and surprised describe a reaction to something unexpected or unusual.

Examples

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.

Which one is more common?

Internet search results for “astonished” and “surprised”

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