untimely -
Not happening at a useful or expected time.
The serious and untimely injury of the tennis star forced him to quit sports.
adjective
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telltale -
Revealing or indicating something hidden or secret, showing the inner nature of something.
The telltale clouds of smoke hinted at a fire nearby.
noun
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longshot -
A venture or guess that has only the slightest chance of succeeding or being accurate.
Many people buy tickets for the lottery even though they know that winning is a longshot.
noun
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impact -
The force or action of one object hitting another.
The impact of the car crash was so strong that it damaged both vehicles.
verb
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startle -
To cause a person or animal to feel sudden shock or alarm
The speeding car startled Victor, and he had just enough time to jump out of the way.
adjective
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unthinkable -
So out of the ordinary that it cannot be imagined as possible
When Genghis Khan was born in 1162, it was unthinkable that someone from his nomadic tribe could conquer most of the known world - but that is what he did.
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mystery -
Something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain, a person or thing that arouses curiosity or wonder because it is unknown or puzzling.
The cause of the strange noise in the attic remains a mystery.
adjective
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dumbstruck -
So shocked or surprised as to be unable to speak.
When Bill heard on the phone that the storm had destroyed his summer house, he was dumbstruck, and didn't know how to respond.
verb
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astound -
To cause others to be very surprised or shocked
The American public was astounded by the revelations about Watergate that were revealed by Woodward and Bernstein in the Washington Post.
adjective
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dumbfounded -
So shocked that you cannot speak
The US public was dumbfounded when the stock market crashed on October 29, 1929.
adjective
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aghast -
Struck with shock, amazement, or horror
When the Stevens family returned home from their two week vacation, they were aghast to find that loads of stray cats were living in their house.
noun
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thunderbolt -
A sudden flash of lightning with a loud crash of thunder, or an unexpected and dramatic event or piece of news.
When the president's announced that he wasn't going to run for re-election, it came as an unexpected thunderbolt to the public.
