stupefaction

stu·pe·fac·tion
S1T1U1P3E1F4A1C3T1I1O1N1
UK/ˌstjʊu̯pəˈfækʃən/UK[ˌstjʊu̯pəˈfækʃən] ~ [ˌstjʊu̯pəˈfækʃn̩]UK/ˌst͡ʃʊu̯pəˈfækʃən/UK[ˌst͡ʃʊu̯pəˈfækʃən] ~ [ˌst͡ʃʊu̯pəˈfækʃən]

noun

The state of extreme shock or astonishment.

Similar
grogginessstuporsemiconsciousness
OriginMiddle French stupéfaction ← Latin stupefaciō →
RareScrabble 19
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Meanings

nounstupefaction (countable and uncountable, plural stupefactions)

plural stupefactions

  1. countableuncountableThe state of extreme shock or astonishment.
  2. countableuncountableA state of insensibility; stupor.

    Suddenly roused from the state of stupefaction to which fear had reduced her, the female filled the air with shrieks. Disengaging herself from the officers, and rushing towards her husband, she clung with all her strength to his arm, imploring him, with frantic violence, not to let them kill her.

    1832, Letitia Elizabeth Landon, Heath's Book of Beauty, 1833, The Knife, page 145

Synonyms & antonyms

nounmarginal consciousness

Similar
grogginessstuporsemiconsciousness
Broader
unconsciousness
Also see
amazementastonishmentflabbergastflabbergastmentgrogginesssemiconsciousnessshockstuporsurprise

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinstupefaciō“strike dumb, stun with amazement, stupefy”
  2. Middle Frenchstupéfaction
  3. Englishstupefaction

From Middle French stupéfaction, from Latin stupefaciō (“strike dumb, stun with amazement, stupefy”), from stupeō (“to be stunned, speechless”) (English stupid, stupor) + faciō (“to do, make”).

More words from Middle French, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek κατάνυξις
  • κατάνυξις (katánuxis)the state of dismay; shock
Bulgarian замайване, зашеметяване
  • замайване (zamajvane)the state of dismay; shock
  • зашеметяване (zašemetjavane)the state of dismay; shock
German Benommenheit, Schock
  • Benommenheitthe state of dismay; shock
  • Schockthe state of dismay; shock
  • Betäubungthe state of dismay; shock
  • Bestürzungthe state of dismay; shock
Russian остолбене́ние, оцепене́ние
  • остолбене́ние (ostolbenénije)the state of dismay; shock
  • оцепене́ние (ocepenénije)the state of dismay; shock
  • сту́пор (stúpor)the state of dismay; shock
Spanish estupefacción
  • estupefacciónthe state of dismay; shock

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with stupefaction

actiontransactionsatisfactioninteractionreactionattractionfractionextractiontractioncontractionfactiondistractionsubtractionrefractioninfractionredactionimpactiondetractionaerifactionalternate actionassuefactionautoextractioncongelifractiondidaction
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

stupefaction. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stupefaction

MLA

“stupefaction.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stupefaction. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “stupefaction,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stupefaction.

Source: stupefaction on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.