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Surprise vs. Astonish — What's the Difference?

Surprise vs. Astonish — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Surprise and Astonish

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Surprise

To cause to feel wonder, astonishment, or amazement, as at something unanticipated
Thinking I was at home, she was surprised to see me in the office. We were surprised that he could recover so quickly.

Astonish

To fill with sudden wonder or amazement.

Surprise

To encounter or discover suddenly or unexpectedly; take or catch unawares
She surprised him as he was reading her diary.

Astonish

To surprise greatly.

Surprise

To attack or capture suddenly and without warning
Surprised the sentries in a predawn raid, wounding several.
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Astonish

To stun; to render senseless, as by a blow.
Enough, captain; you have astonished him. [Fluellen had struck Pistol].
The very cramp-fish [i. e., torpedo] . . . being herself not benumbed, is able to astonish others.

Surprise

To cause (someone) to do or say something unintended or to be in an unintended condition
"There passed a scene ... that surprised me into courage to come forward" (Fanny Burney).

Astonish

To strike with sudden fear, terror, or wonder; to amaze; to surprise greatly, as with something unaccountable; to confound with some sudden emotion or passion.
Musidorus . . . had his wits astonished with sorrow.
I, Daniel . . . was astonished at the vision.

Surprise

To elicit or detect through surprise
"She occasionally surprised a look on Jemima's face" (Marcia Willett).

Astonish

Affect with wonder;
Your ability to speak six languages amazes me!

Surprise

The act of surprising or the condition of being surprised
Imagine my surprise on seeing you here.

Surprise

Something, such as an unexpected encounter, event, or gift, that surprises.

Surprise

Something unexpected.
It was a surprise to find out I owed twice as much as I thought I did.

Surprise

The feeling that something unexpected has happened.
Imagine my surprise on learning I owed twice as much as I thought I did.

Surprise

(transitive) To cause (someone) to feel unusually alarmed or delighted by something unexpected.
It surprises me that I owe twice as much as I thought I did.

Surprise

(transitive) To do something to (a person) that they are not expecting, as a surprise.
He doesn’t know that I’m in the country – I thought I’d turn up at his house and surprise him.

Surprise

(intransitive) To undergo or witness something unexpected.
He doesn’t surprise easily.

Surprise

(intransitive) To cause surprise.

Surprise

(transitive) To attack unexpectedly.

Surprise

(transitive) To take unawares.

Surprise

The act of coming upon, or taking, unawares; the act of seizing unexpectedly; surprisal; as, the fort was taken by surprise.

Surprise

The state of being surprised, or taken unawares, by some act or event which could not reasonably be foreseen; emotion excited by what is sudden and strange; a suddenly excited feeling of wonder or astonishment.
Pure surprise and fearMade me to quit the house.

Surprise

Anything that causes such a state or emotion.

Surprise

A dish covered with a crust of raised paste, but with no other contents.

Surprise

To come or fall suddenly and unexpectedly; to take unawares; to seize or capture by unexpected attack.
Fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites.
The castle of Macduff I will surprise.
Who can speakThe mingled passions that surprised his heart?

Surprise

To strike with wonder, astonishment, or confusion, by something sudden, unexpected, or remarkable; to confound; as, his conduct surprised me.
I am surprised with an uncouth fear.
Up he starts,Discovered and surprised.

Surprise

To lead (one) to do suddenly and without forethought; to bring (one) into some unexpected state; - with into; as, to be surprised into an indiscretion; to be surprised into generosity.

Surprise

To hold possession of; to hold.
Not with me,That in my hands surprise the sovereignity.

Surprise

The astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

Surprise

A sudden unexpected event

Surprise

The act of surprising someone

Surprise

Cause to be surprised;
The news really surprised me

Surprise

Come upon or take unawares;
She surprised the couple
He surprised an interesting scene

Surprise

Attack by storm; attack suddenly

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