stunned silence
Jaw-dropped quiet moment
Stunned silence is the absence of speech or sound that follows shocking news or an unexpected event.
The silence comes not from having nothing to say but from being momentarily unable to process what just happened: The announcement was met with stunned silence.
It may last only seconds before reactions begin.
- speechlessUnable to talk
- shockedDeeply startled or appalled
- dumbfoundedRendered speechless by surprise
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
- gaspSudden sharp breath
in shock · sharp intake · frozen · breathless · awestruck · thunderstruck · floored · reeling · numb · long pause · pause · hush · quiet · stillness · moment · aftermath · bombshell · revelation
- astonishmentamazement, awe, wonder, wonderstruck, awestruck
- confusionconfusion, confused, bewilderment, perplexity, baffled
- silencequiet, mute, hush, stillness, muted
- reactionsreaction, response, gasp, wince, flinch
- disbeliefdisbelief, no way, incredulity, unbelievable, yeah right
- dramatic pausespregnant pause, beat, caesura
stunned silenceuproar
Noisy public disturbance
thunderous applause · screaming · cacophony · clamor · hubbub
stunned silencerapturous applause
Intensely enthusiastic audience response
stunned, silence, stun, stuns, stunning, stunningly, silent, silently, silences