Gobsmacked Meaning, Examples & Usage Guide

Meaning 1：utterly shocked (Gobsmacked)

Gobsmacked 🔊

/ˈɡɒbsmækt/

adj.

Extremely surprised or shocked, often so much that you can't speak.

Gobsmacked person with wide eyes and open mouth in living room

utterly shocked 🔊

➕

/ˈʌtəli ʃɒkt/

adj.

Extremely surprised or shocked, to the point of being temporarily unable to speak.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：advanced

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From 'gob' (mouth) + 'smacked' (hit), meaning struck speechless with shock.

💡 Mnemonic

Picture being 'gob-smacked' – someone smacks your 'gob' (mouth), leaving you wide-eyed and unable to speak.

📖 Example

When my best friend told me she was moving abroad, I was totally gobsmacked and just stared at her. 🔊 When my best friend told me she was moving abroad, I was totally gobsmacked and just stared at her.

🔗 Collocations

gobsmacked at/by – utterly amazed by something

leave someone gobsmacked – to cause someone to be utterly shocked

gobsmacked to hear – extremely shocked upon hearing something

🔄 Synonyms

flabbergasted (adj.) – Extremely surprised or astonished, often to the point of being speechless.

dumbfounded (adj.) – So shocked or surprised that one cannot speak; speechless with astonishment.

astonished (adj.) – Very surprised or impressed by something unexpected.

🚫 Antonyms

unimpressed (adj.) – Not affected or impressed by something; indifferent.

expecting (adj./prep.) – Regarded as likely to happen; not surprised.

composed (adj.) – Having one's feelings under control; calm and not showing shock.

🌱 Derivatives

gobsmacking (adj.) – Causing great astonishment.

gobsmackingly (adv.) – In a way that causes great astonishment.

gobsmack (v.) – To astonish or shock deeply.

📖 Cultural Story

Originating in British slang in the mid-20th century, 'gobsmacked' describes astonishment so intense it leaves one with mouth agape, as if physically struck on the mouth. No mythical story; purely colloquial imagery.