speech ‧ less /ˈspiːtʃləs/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ unspeakable , ↑ speechless , ↑ outspoken , ↑ spoken ≠ ↑ unspoken ; noun : ↑ speaker , ↑ speech ; verb : ↑ speak ; adverb : ↑ unspeakably ]
unable to speak because you feel very angry, upset etc
speechless with
His comments left me speechless with rage.
—speechlessly adverb
—speechlessness noun [uncountable]
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THESAURUS
▪ surprised having the feeling you get when something happens that you did not expect:
I was surprised to see her again so soon.
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I’m really surprised that he remembered my birthday.
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Nobody was surprised when they split up.
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a surprised expression
▪ amazed [not before noun] extremely surprised, especially by something good or by something that seems hard to believe:
I’m amazed that he survived.
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You’ll be amazed when you see the difference.
▪ astonished extremely surprised:
He was astonished by how much she had changed.
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an astonished look
▪ astounded extremely surprised or shocked. Astounded sounds a little more formal and a little stronger than astonished :
She was astounded by how much it cost.
▪ staggered/flabbergasted/dumbfounded [not before noun] extremely surprised or shocked:
‘What?’ I said, utterly staggered by his answer.
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She just sat there looking flabbergasted.
▪ stunned so surprised that you do not know what to do or say:
I was too stunned to protest.
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Everyone seemed stunned by his outburst.
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They listened in stunned silence.
▪ speechless so surprised that you cannot speak:
I was speechless when I heard that I’d won.
▪ taken aback [not before noun] surprised by what someone says or does, so that you are not sure how to react:
I was a little taken aback by her question.
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Sharpe was somewhat taken aback by the girl 's directness.
▪ nonplussed /nɒnˈplʌst $ nɑːn-/ formal surprised and a little confused:
She was nonplussed by such an odd question.
▪ gobsmacked [not before noun] British English informal extremely surprised – a very informal use:
I was absolutely gobsmacked when they told me I had passed.