taken aback
The phrase “taken aback” has 4 syllables: tak-en a-back
It's pronounced as /ˈteɪkən əˈbæk/
What is synonym and antonym for taken aback?
In the thesaurus, “taken aback” has 130 synonyms and 23 antonyms.
Here are synonyms and antonyms for taken aback along with examples of usage in sentences.
Synonyms for taken aback
- abashed
- addled
- addlepated
- agape
- aghast
- agog
- amazed
- annoyed
- appalled
- ashamed
- astonished
- astounded
- at a loss
- at sea
- at sixes and sevens
- awe-struck
- awed
- baffled
- bamboozled
- beat
- befuddled
- bewildered
- blindsided
- blown away
- blown-away
- bowled over
- breathless
- buffaloed
- bugged
- caught off balance
- chagrined
- come apart
- confounded
- confused
- confusional
- crushed
- dazed
- dazzled
- discombobulated
- discomfited
- disconcerted
- dismayed
- disorganized
- distracted
- disturbed
- dizzy
- dumb
- dumbfounded
- dumbstruck
- dumfounded
- embarrassed
- fazed
- flabbergasted
- flipped-out
- floored
- flummoxed
- flustered
- fouled-up
- frozen
- fuddled
- giddy
- glassy-eyed
- gone
- humbled
- humiliated
- in a dither
- in a tizzy
- in botheration
- jarred
- knocked
- knocked for a loop
- licked
- lost
- messed-up
- misled
- mixed up
- mixed-up
- mortified
- muddled
- mystified
- nonplused
- nonplussed
- not with it
- numb
- out of countenance
- out to lunch
- overcome
- overwhelmed
- perplexed
- perturbed
- psyched-out
- punch-drunk
- punchy
- puzzled
- rattled
- reeling
- rocked
- ruffled
- screwy
- shaken up
- shamed
- shocked
- shook-up
- shot to pieces
- slaphappy
- spaced out
- spaced-out
- speechless
- staggered
- startled
- stuck
- stumped
- stunned
- stupefied
- surprised
- surprized
- taken by surprise
- thrown
- thrown off balance
- thunderstricken
- thunderstruck
- troubled
- turbid
- uncertain
- unglued
- unscrewed
- unsettled
- unzipped
- upset
- woolly
Antonyms for taken aback
- at ease
- aware
- calm
- clear
- composed
- concerted
- emboldened
- expectant
- happy
- methodical
- ordered
- organized
- oriented
- poised
- proud
- reassured
- separated
- settled
- soothed
- systematic
- understanding
- unsurprised
- unworried
Example Sentences
- When she heard the news, she was taken aback by the suddenness of it all.
- The teacher was taken aback by the students' lack of interest in the subject.
- He was taken aback by her sharp reply, not expecting such a strong reaction.
- The beauty of the scene left them taken aback, speechless for a moment.
- His honesty in the interview taken aback the panel, they weren't used to such frankness.
On this page you'll find 153 synonyms, antonyms, or another words to taken aback, such as: abashed, addled, addlepated, agape, aghast, agog, amazed.
Make sure to choose synonyms and antonyms that are appropriate for the context of the sentence.
Related Words
taken by surprise
- amazed
- astonished
- astounded
- befuddled
- bewildered
- blindsided
- blown away
- bowled over
- confounded
- confused
- dazed
- discomfited
- disconcerted
- dismayed
- dumbfounded
- dumfounded
- flabbergasted
- floored
- jarred
- knocked for a loop
- muddled
- nonplused
- nonplussed
- perplexed
- rocked
- shaken up
- shocked
- startled
- stunned
- stupefied
- surprised
- surprized
- taken aback
- thunderstricken
- thunderstruck
rattled
- abashed
- active
- addled
- agape
- aggravated
- aghast
- agitated
- agog
- alarmed
- all torn up
- amazed
- annoyed
- antsy
- anxious
- appalled
- apprehensive
- aroused
- ashamed
- astonished
- astounded
- at a loss
- at sea
- awe-struck
- awed
- awkward
- babbled
- baffled
- balled up
- befuddled
- berserk
- beside oneself
- bewildered
- blabbed
- blabbered
- blanched
- blew smoke
- blithered
- blue
- bollixed
- bothered
- bowled over
- broken up
- bugged
- bumbled
- bummed out
- burbled
- busy
- cackled
- capsized
- carried away
- caught off balance
- chaffered
- chagrined
- changeable
- changeful
- changing
- chaotic
- chatted
- chattered
- chewed the fat
- chewed the rag
- chinked
- chinned
- chirped
- clacked
- clanged
- clanked
- clashed
- clattered
- clicked
- clinked
- clip-cloped
- clop-clopped
- clopped
- clueless
- clumsy
- come apart
- come unzipped
- complex
- complicated
- concerned
- confounded
- confused
- conversed
- cowardly
- cowed
- crashed
- crazed
- crazy
- crushed
- daunted
- dazed
- dazzled
- debased
- degraded
- delirious
- demeaned
- demented
- descanted
- deviated
- digressed
- discombobulated
- discomfited
- discomforted
- discomposed
- disconcerted
- discountenanced
- discouraged
- discussed
- disheartened
- dismayed
- disordered
- disorderly
- disquieted
- distracted
- distrait
- distraught
- distressed
- disturbed
- dizzy
- dopey
- doubtful
- dragged
- driveled
- drivelled
- drooled
- dumbfounded
- dumbstruck
- embarrassed
- expatiated
- explosive
- faint-hearted
- fazed
- fearful
- fearsome
- fidgety
- flabbergasted
- flipped-out
- floored
- fluid
- flustered
- foggy
- fouled-up
- frantic
- frenetic
- frightened
- frozen
- fuddled
- funky
- gabbed
- gabbled
- gassed
- gauche
- gibbered
- giddy
- gone
- gossiped
- graceless
- grieved
- harassed
- have cold feet
- horrified
- humbled
- humiliated
- hung up
- hurt
- hysterical
- ill
- in a dither
- in a fog
- in a panic
- in a tizzy
- in awe
- in botheration
- in disarray
- inconstant
- inelegant
- insane
- insecure
- intimidated
- irritated
- jabbered
- jawed
- jittery
- jolted
- jumpy
- kibbitzed
- kibitzed
- kinetic
- like a chicken with its head cut off
- lost
- loused up
- low
- mad
- maundered
- messed-up
- mind-blown
- misled
- mixed up
- mixed-up
- mobile
- mortified
- mucked up
- muddled
- mutable
- mystified
- nattered
- nervous
- nonplused
- nonplussed
- nuts
- on edge
- out of countenance
- out of it
- overcome
- overturned
- overwrought
- palavered
- panic-stricken
- pattered
- perilous
- perplexed
- perturbed
- petrified
- prated
- prattled
- precarious
- psyched-out
- punchy
- put off
- put out
- puzzled
- queered
- racketed
- rambled
- ran on
- rapped
- raving
- reeling
- restive
- restless
- rough-hewn
- ruffled
- run scared
- rustic
- rustical
- scared
- scared stiff
- scared to death
- schmoozed
- screwed-up
- self-conscious
- shaken
- shaky
- shamed
- shifting
- shmoozed
- shocked
- shook
- shook-up
- shot the breeze
- sick
- sidetracked
- slap-happy
- spaced out
- spaced-out
- spattered
- speechless
- spilled
- spooked
- sputtered
- staggered
- startled
- stiff
- stilted
- strayed
- stuck
- stumped
- stunned
- stupefied
- surprised
- suspicious
- taken aback
- talked
- talked a blue streak
- tattled
- tense
- terrified
- terror-stricken
- thrown
- thunderstruck
- ticklish
- timid
- timorous
- tipped over
- toppled
- tormented
- trembling
- troubled
- tumbled
- twittered
- unbalanced
- uncertain
- uncomfortable
- uneasy
- unglued
- ungraceful
- unhinged
- unnerved
- unpeaceful
- unpredictable
- unquiet
- unrestful
- unscrewed
- unsettled
- unstable
- unsteady
- unzipped
- upset
- upside-down
- variable
- very upset
- visited
- waffled
- wandered
- wavering
- went on
- wild
- without a clue
- wobbling
- wooden
- woolly
- woozy
- worked-up
- worried
- yacked
- yakked
- yammered
- yapped
bamboozled
- abashed
- addled
- agape
- aghast
- agitated
- amazed
- astonished
- baffled
- baited
- beat
- befogged
- befuddled
- beguiled
- bemused
- betrayed
- bewildered
- bilked
- bled
- blown-away
- bluffed
- bothered
- bowled over
- breathless
- buffaloed
- burned
- burnt
- caught
- chagrined
- cheated
- chiseled
- chiselled
- confounded
- confused
- conned
- cozened
- culled
- deceived
- defrauded
- deluded
- did a number on
- diddled
- discombobulated
- discomfited
- discomforted
- discomposed
- disconcerted
- discountenanced
- dismayed
- disoriented
- disquieted
- distressed
- disturbed
- dumb
- duped
- embarrassed
- euchred
- faked out
- fazed
- finessed
- flabbergasted
- fleeced
- flimflammed
- floored
- flummoxed
- flustered
- fooled
- foxed
- fuddled
- gaffed
- gammoned
- got
- graveled
- gravelled
- gulled
- had
- had on
- hoaxed
- hoodwinked
- hornswoggled
- humbugged
- hustled
- juggled
- kidded
- knocked
- led one down the garden path
- led one up the garden path
- licked
- lured
- mazed
- misguided
- misinformed
- misled
- mortified
- muddied
- muddled
- mulcted
- mystified
- nonplused
- nonplussed
- outfoxed
- overcharged
- overcome
- overwhelmed
- perplexed
- perturbed
- played
- posed
- put on
- puzzled
- rattled
- ripped off
- rooked
- scammed
- shocked
- shortchanged
- skinned
- snared
- snookered
- snowed
- speechless
- spoofed
- squeezed
- staggered
- startled
- strung along
- stuck
- stumped
- stung
- stunned
- sucked in
- suckered
- surprised
- swindled
- taken
- taken aback
- taken in
- teased
- thrown
- thunderstruck
- took in
- trapped
- tricked
- unhinged
- unsettled
- upset
- vexed
- vext
- victimized
- weirded out
dazzled
- absorbed
- addled
- affected
- agape
- aghast
- agog
- appalled
- aroused
- astonished
- astounded
- attracted
- awe-struck
- awed
- baffled
- bedazzled
- befuddled
- beguiled
- bemused
- bewildered
- bewitched
- blind
- blinded
- bowled over
- charmed
- confused
- dazed
- delighted
- disconcerted
- distracted
- disturbed
- dizzy
- dumb
- dumbfounded
- dumbstruck
- enamored
- enchanted
- engrossed
- enraptured
- enthralled
- enticed
- entranced
- excited
- faint
- fascinated
- flabbergasted
- flipped-out
- floored
- flustered
- fond of
- gaga
- giddy
- groggy
- hazy
- hypnotized
- in a dither
- in love with
- infatuated
- intoxicated
- light
- light-headed
- lightheaded
- lost
- mesmerized
- misled
- muddled
- mystified
- off balance
- out of control
- overpowered
- overwhelmed
- perplexed
- punch-drunk
- punchy
- puzzled
- queasy
- rattled
- reeling
- seduced
- seeing stars
- senile
- sent
- shaky
- shocked
- shook-up
- silly
- slap-happy
- smitten
- snowed
- sold on
- speechless
- staggered
- staggering
- startled
- stuck on
- stumped
- stunned
- stupefied
- surprised
- swimming
- taken aback
- tantalized
- thrilled
- thrown
- thunderstruck
- tipsy
- titillated
- transfixed
- transported
- uncertain
- under a spell
- unglued
- unsteady
- upset
- vertiginous
- weak in the knees
- weak-kneed
- whirling
- wobbly
- woozy
abashed
- agitated
- ashamed
- awkward
- backward
- bashful
- bewildered
- bothered
- bugged
- chagrined
- clumsy
- confounded
- confused
- coy
- crushed
- debased
- degraded
- demeaned
- demure
- diffident
- discombobulated
- discomfited
- discomforted
- discomposed
- disconcerted
- discountenanced
- dismayed
- disquieted
- distressed
- disturbed
- embarrassed
- fazed
- flustered
- fuddled
- gauche
- graceless
- humbled
- humiliated
- in a tizzy
- inelegant
- inhibited
- insecure
- introverted
- jittery
- jumpy
- meek
- modest
- mortified
- nervous
- nonplused
- nonplussed
- perturbed
- put off
- put out
- queered
- rattled
- recessive
- reserved
- retiring
- rough-hewn
- rustic
- rustical
- self-conscious
- self-doubting
- self-effacing
- shamed
- sheepish
- shy
- stiff
- stilted
- taken aback
- timid
- unadventurous
- unassertive
- unassuming
- uncomfortable
- uneasy
- unenterprising
- ungraceful
- unhinged
- unpretentious
- unsettled
- upset
- uptight
- withdrawn
- wooden