aback
Surprised, thrown backward
Aback means backward or by surprise.
The word survives almost exclusively in the phrase taken aback, meaning startled or disconcerted: I was taken aback by his rudeness.
The expression comes from sailing, where a ship is taken aback when wind suddenly fills its sails from the wrong side, stopping forward motion.
Abruptly surprised or alarmed
- astonishedGreatly shocked, overwhelmed
- stunnedShocked into speechlessness
- flabbergastedOverwhelmed with amazement
- dumbfoundedRendered speechless by surprise
shocked · stupefied · thunderstruck · gobsmacked · astounded · amazed · blindsided · floored
startled
Abruptly surprised or alarmed
- astonishedGreatly shocked, overwhelmed
- stunnedShocked into speechlessness
- flabbergastedOverwhelmed with amazement
dumbfounded · shocked · stupefied · thunderstruck · gobsmacked · astounded · amazed · blindsided · floored · staggered
flinch
Involuntary retreat from threat
recoil · withdraw · blench · quail · shy away · hesitate · balk · falter · blanch
astern
Toward a vessel's rear
abackprepared
Made ready beforehand
forewarned · ready · unsurprised · anticipating · braced
- taken abackShocked into momentary confusion