Bewildered vs Still in shock

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Bewildered

Top 3,000 (common)B1adjective

Still in shock

Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Still in shock
 BewilderedStill in shock
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //bɪˈwɪl.dəd//🇺🇸 //bɪˈwɪl.ərd//🇬🇧 //stɪl ɪn ʃɒk//🇺🇸 //stɪl ɪn ʃɑk//
MeaningConfused or puzzled about something.Feeling surprised or upset after something unexpected happens.
ExampleShe looked bewildered after hearing the unexpected news.After hearing the bad news, I was still in shock.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 3,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechadjective
Collocationsbewildered look, bewildered expression, bewildered by optionsstill in shock after news, still in shock from an event, still in shock and disbelief
Antonymsclear, composed, understanding-
Common mistakesConfused with 'bewilder' which is a verb., Using it to describe something that is just complicated, rather than causing confusion., Omitting the context when saying someone is 'bewildered'.Using with a specific time reference (e.g., 'I was still in shock yesterday') is awkward., Confused with 'in shock' which is less emotional., Saying it when not genuinely surprised or upset can seem insincere.
Usage notesUsed to describe a state of confusion. Appropriate in both spoken and written contexts. Not typically used in formal academic writings.Use this phrase in informal conversations when discussing emotional reactions to unexpected news or events. It may not be suitable for very formal settings.

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Still in shock

Frequently asked questions: Bewildered vs Still in shock

What's the difference between Bewildered and Still in shock?

Bewildered: Confused or puzzled about something. Still in shock: Feeling surprised or upset after something unexpected happens.

Which is more common: Bewildered and Still in shock?

Still in shock is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Bewildered: She looked bewildered after hearing the unexpected news. Still in shock: After hearing the bad news, I was still in shock.

Can I use Bewildered and Still in shock interchangeably?

Not always. Bewildered and Still in shock are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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