aghast
Pale with shock
Aghast means struck with shock, horror, or dismay.
The word suggests being frozen or stunned by what you've witnessed: She stood aghast at the destruction.
It typically follows a linking verb: He was aghast to learn the truth.
The reaction is stronger than surprised but less physical than horrified—more about being appalled than afraid.
Gripped by intense fear
- appalledShocked by wrongness
- dismayedDistressed by shock
- revoltedRose in opposition
- repulsedRejected with disgust
sickened · disgusted · shocked · disturbed · alarmed · distressed · troubled · upset
Shocked into speechlessness
- dumbfoundedRendered speechless by surprise
- flabbergastedOverwhelmed with amazement
- stupefiedOverwhelmed into mental blankness
- thunderstruckExtremely shocked or amazed
gobsmacked · staggered · speechless · incredulous · disbelieving · amazed · astounded · bewildered
horror-struck
Gripped by intense fear
repulsed · sickened · disgusted · shocked · disturbed · alarmed · distressed · troubled · upset · shaken
stunned
Shocked into speechlessness
- dumbfoundedRendered speechless by surprise
- flabbergastedOverwhelmed with amazement
- stupefiedOverwhelmed into mental blankness
thunderstruck · gobsmacked · staggered · speechless · incredulous · disbelieving · amazed · astounded · bewildered · confounded
- fear reactionsscream, scared, gasp, terrified, flinch
- shock reactionsgasp, wide eyes, jaw drop, shocked face, open mouth
- astonishmentamazement, awe, wonder, wonderstruck, awestruck
- extreme reactionsfreakout, meltdown, hysteria, panic, outrage
- silent lettersknife, knock, know, knee, knot
- Stunned reactionsshocked, amazed, surprised, speechless, awed
aghastunfazed
Not disturbed or disconcerted
unmoved · calm · composed · unperturbed · collected
aghastunsurprised
Not caught off guard
unshocked · expectant · prepared · anticipating · knowing