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Stupefaction

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(pronounced stoo-puh-fak-shun or styoo-puh-fak-shun)  noun

Definition

1. the state of being stupefied or flabbergasted.  2. stunned or overwhelming astonishment; complete perplexity; extreme dismay.
Stupefy  (pronounced stoo-puh-fy or styoo-puh-fy)  = 1. to put into a state of insensibility or stupor; to stun or make dull.  2. to amaze or astound; astonish; to perplex or shock completely.

Main Example

• Of all the news footage of the Olympic torch relay that has been aired these past few weeks, among the most unforgettable is the one showing a female torch bearer running in Paris. In an instant, her expression of triumph and pride changes to a look of stupefaction as a protestor, lurking among the spectators, snatches the torch from her with lightning speed.

Workplace Examples

• You are right, I could never have imagined that one day I'd belong to this highly regarded team of analysts because, for one thing, I don't even have an MBA, and second, my previous assignments did not afford me any visibility in the company. It was about a year ago when, much to my stupefaction, I received an email from this group's vice president, Matt, asking if I would like to join his team.
• The movie's ending made absolutely no sense. There should have been at least one more scene to explain what happens at the end. I just sat there stupefied, in disbelief that the movie had really ended.

Other Examples

• a speaker saying: "I was told to expect an audience of about 15 to 20 people, so when I entered the room and saw that it was packed with well over 100 attendees, I was stupefied."
• a colleague describing a management misstep as "stupefyingly dumb"; a stupefyingly beautiful actress; the stupefying sight of a snowy Himalayan mountain range suddenly unfolding before a group of hikers as they climb up to a ridge; an extremely popular and successful exec telling a roomful of stupefied employees that he is leaving the company and that they will soon have a new boss
• fans left watching with stupefaction as their fanatically loved, highly-ranked basketball team gets a drubbing from a team that's a huge underdog
• describing how the surprise North Korean concert came about, New York Philharmonic Music Director Lorin Maazel saying during an interview: "The North Koreans must have heard about our long-planned concerts in China, so a few months ago they approached us and, much to our stupefaction, asked if we could tack on a concert in Pyongyang."

© 2008 V.J. Singal

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