curveballed
Caught off guard
Curveballed means caught off guard by something unexpected, from the baseball pitch designed to deceive batters by curving unpredictably.
If life curveballed you, it threw you an unwelcome surprise: I was curveballed by the layoff announcement.
The past tense works as verb or adjective: We got completely curveballed by the new regulations.
Greatly shocked, overwhelmed
- stunnedShocked into speechlessness
- shockedDeeply startled or appalled
- blindsidedSurprised by unforeseen impact
- caught off guardSurprised when unprepared
taken aback · floored · gobsmacked · dumbfounded · flabbergasted · startled · thunderstruck · bowled over
Thoroughly puzzled and confused
- baffledUtterly unable to understand
- disorientedLacking sense of direction
- flusteredNervously upset and confused
- thrownPropelled by arm
rattled · disconcerted · perplexed · nonplussed · confounded · flummoxed · unsettled · wrongfooted
Not anticipated beforehand
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
- unanticipatedNot predicted beforehand
- out of the blueWithout any forewarning
- suddenOccurring without prior notice
abrupt · random · unplanned · unlooked-for · left-field · wild · erratic · surprising
Examined for quality
- triedMade an attempt
- stretchedPulled to lengthen
- pushedApplied pressure to move
- pressuredUrged with insistence
strained · taxed · stressed · hardpressed · put on the spot
astonished
Greatly shocked, overwhelmed
- stunnedShocked into speechlessness
- shockedDeeply startled or appalled
- blindsidedSurprised by unforeseen impact
caught off guard · taken aback · floored · gobsmacked · dumbfounded · flabbergasted · startled · thunderstruck · bowled over · staggered
bewildered
Thoroughly puzzled and confused
- baffledUtterly unable to understand
- disorientedLacking sense of direction
- flusteredNervously upset and confused
thrown · rattled · disconcerted · perplexed · nonplussed · confounded · flummoxed · unsettled · wrongfooted · mystified
unexpected
Not anticipated beforehand
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
- unanticipatedNot predicted beforehand
- out of the blueWithout any forewarning
sudden · abrupt · random · unplanned · unlooked-for · left-field · wild · erratic · surprising · bolt from blue
tested
Examined for quality
pressured · strained · taxed · stressed · hardpressed · put on the spot
- throw someone a curveballSurprise with something unexpected