Cool MateReally astonishing vs Stunning
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Really astonishing
Top 3,000 (common)
Stunning
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
Most common: Stunning
| Really astonishing | Stunning | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈrɪəli əˈstɒnɪʃɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ˈrɪli əˈstɑnɪʃɪŋ// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈstʌnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈstʌnɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Very surprising or impressive. | Very beautiful or impressive. |
| Example | The view from the mountain was really astonishing. | You look absolutely stunning! |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | really astonishing results, really astonishing story, really astonishing talent | be, look, find something, really, absolutely, quite, be, look, find something, really, absolutely, quite |
| Antonyms | - | ugly, unattractive, dull |
| Common mistakes | Using 'really' with weak adjectives like 'nice'., Confusing 'astonishing' with 'astonished' (the latter is a feeling)., Overusing 'really' instead of using other intensifiers. | Confused with 'stun' vs 'stunning' where 'stun' refers to shock., Using 'stunning' for something ordinary., Misplacing in a sentence, leading to unclear meaning. |
| Usage notes | Use 'really astonishing' to emphasize surprise or impressiveness. Common in spoken and written English but avoid in formal academic writing. | Used to describe people, places, or things that are visually striking. More common in positive contexts. Avoid using in negative or sarcastic tones. |
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Frequently asked questions: Really astonishing vs Stunning
What's the difference between Really astonishing and Stunning?
Really astonishing: Very surprising or impressive. Stunning: Very beautiful or impressive.
Which is more common: Really astonishing and Stunning?
Stunning is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Really astonishing: The view from the mountain was really astonishing. Stunning: You look absolutely stunning!
Can I use Really astonishing and Stunning interchangeably?
Not always. Really astonishing and Stunning 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.