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effarant

staggering; astounding

adjective eh-fah-RAHN Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Degree

Origin: Present participle of effarer 'to bewilder'.

Usage Note

Effarant (feminine effarante) expresses that something is so extreme or shocking it leaves one speechless — often used for figures, behaviour, or speeds: une vitesse effarante (a staggering speed). It is stronger than étonnant (surprising) and leans toward negative or overwhelming contexts. The related verb effarer means to alarm or bewilder.

Examples

"Le gaspillage alimentaire est d'une ampleur effarante."

Natural Translation

Food waste is on a staggering scale.

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