shocked and awed

Left completely speechless

Shocked and awed describes being overwhelmed by a display of force or power.

The phrase became prominent during the 2003 Iraq War, when "shock and awe" named the U.S. military's strategy of rapid dominance through overwhelming firepower.

Now used more broadly, often ironically, for anything meant to impress through sheer intensity: I was shocked and awed by the buffet spread.

Related

blown away · overwhelmed · disbelief · beyond belief · humbled · paralyzed · deer in headlights · mind-blowing · wonder · amazement · reverence · mesmerized · captivated · dread · gobsmacked · fear · breathtaking · earth-shattering

Opposites
emotional/psychological impact

shocked and awedunimpressed

Failing to find remarkable

unfazed · unmoved · indifferent · blasé · underwhelmed

military/strategic effect

shocked and awedunintimidated

Not frightened into submission

defiant · emboldened · undeterred · resistant · resolute

impressiveness of display

shocked and awedunimpressed

Failing to find remarkable

underwhelmed · disappointed · let down · not impressed · taking it in stride

Family

shock, shocked, shocking, shockingly, shocker, shocks, unshocked, awed, overawed

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Mostly American · Abstract · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG