stunning

/ˈstʌnɪŋ/
adjectiveIntermediate extremely beautiful or impressive
informal

Extremely beautiful, attractive, or impressive in appearance.

She wore a stunning red dress to the gala.

Her red dress was extremely elegant and eye-catching.

The architecture of the cathedral is simply stunning.

The cathedral's design is breathtakingly beautiful.

💡

Often used to describe visual beauty or impressive achievements.

informal

Overwhelming or shocking in impact.

The news of his sudden resignation was stunning.

The announcement of his resignation was shocking and unexpected.

💡

Less common usage, often in the context of surprising or shocking events.

Collocations

stunning beautyextreme attractivenessstunning performanceexceptional or impressive displaystunning viewbreathtaking scenery

Related Phrases

stun into silencephrase
to shock someone so much that they are speechless

💡Pro Tip

Usage Tip

Use 'stunning' to describe something that is visually striking or exceptionally impressive.

Gold Rule

Correct Usage

Avoid using 'stunning' to describe something that is merely good; reserve it for exceptional cases.

📖Word Origin

From the verb 'stun,' meaning to shock or overwhelm, with the suffix '-ing' indicating a state or quality.

📝Usage Notes

Primarily used to describe visual beauty or impressive achievements. Can also describe overwhelming or shocking events.

Word Breakdown

stun
to shock or overwhelm
root
+
-ing
a state or quality
suffix
English Dictionary