1
Core quality
Filled with overwhelming wonder, admiration, or reverential amazement.
Example
Visitors stood awestruck beneath the enormous dome.
awestruck
/ˈɔːstrʌk/ · AW-strukadjective
Filled with overwhelming wonder, admiration, or reverential amazement.
Use awestruck to express this relationship precisely: filled with overwhelming wonder, admiration, or reverential amazement.
What awestruck Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Attributive or predicative use
Use this adjective before a suitable noun or after a linking verb such as be or seem.
Example
The children were awestruck by the night sky.
3
Analytical distinction
Choose it when this exact descriptive quality matters; a related word may overlap without conveying the same trait.
Example
Even experienced climbers appeared awestruck at the view.
Use awestruck Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
Visitors stood awestruck beneath the enormous dome.
The children were awestruck by the night sky.
Even experienced climbers appeared awestruck at the view.
Precision Matters
Awestruck overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
awestruck
vs.Means filled with overwhelming wonder, admiration, or reverential amazement.
nonchalant
Means appearing casually calm, unconcerned, or indifferent, especially in a situation that might provoke anxiety.
awestruck
vs.Means filled with overwhelming wonder, admiration, or reverential amazement.
smug
Means excessively self-satisfied and complacently pleased with oneself.
awestruck
vs.Means filled with overwhelming wonder, admiration, or reverential amazement.
contempt
Means a feeling or expression that someone or something is worthless, inferior, or deserving of scorn.
awestruck
vs.Means filled with overwhelming wonder, admiration, or reverential amazement.
venerate
Means regard or treat someone or something with profound respect, reverence, or devotion.
Test awestruck in Context
They are overwhelmed by wonder and admiration.
1
Seeing the vast canyon for the first time, the students fell silent and ___.