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.
- explosionsViolent, rapid expansions
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
- taken abackShocked into momentary confusion
- jaw-droppingExtremely surprising or impressive
- stunnedShocked into speechlessness
blown away · overwhelmed · disbelief · beyond belief · humbled · paralyzed · deer in headlights · mind-blowing · wonder · amazement · reverence · mesmerized · captivated · dread · gobsmacked · fear · breathtaking · earth-shattering
shocked and awedunimpressed
Failing to find remarkable
unfazed · unmoved · indifferent · blasé · underwhelmed
shocked and awedunintimidated
Not frightened into submission
defiant · emboldened · undeterred · resistant · resolute
shocked and awedunimpressed
Failing to find remarkable
underwhelmed · disappointed · let down · not impressed · taking it in stride
shock, shocked, shocking, shockingly, shocker, shocks, unshocked, awed, overawed