as in amazes
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
she was bowled over to learn that she had a long-lost sister
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bowls over
The order in which those balls were plucked out of those bowls over the next few minutes would determine the World Cup matchups in June–and the psychological state of so many soccer fans.
—
Sean Gregory, Time, 5 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowls over
Verb
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What amazes me is how good human beings can be in a crisis.—
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What amazes her is how someone chose to save these items and hang on to them for future generations.—
Verb
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Equipment is available at no cost, a benefit that Sandoval said often surprises visitors.—
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During the celebration, Dale Bradley (James Jordan) surprises him with a Rolex Daytona Panda, a gift valued at roughly $30,000.—
Verb
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The versatile shade stuns on its own, layered under chrome, or baked into a design.—
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Trump's attack stuns the world.—
Verb
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Violence shocks neighbors Neighbors said the violence unfolded in just seconds.—
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Rather than comply, Deborah shocks everyone by telling the audience the truth and loses her show.—
Verb
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As the dolphin gets closer to the glass, the Chihuahua lets out a bark that startles the dolphin, who then starts mimicking the dog's mouth movements in a sort of chasing game across species.—
Verb
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The fashion guru typically rocks her tried-and-true ashy blonde, occasionally opting for highlights and/or lowlights.—
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But when a tsunami rocks their island, profound tragedy ensues, and immediately ups the stakes of a brief encounter.—
Verb
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His work astonishes and moves people far beyond the fashion bubble to this day.—
Cite this Entry
“Bowls over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowls%20over. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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