In this page you can discover 11 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for aback, like: by surprise, unawares, unexpectedly, behind, sudden, suddenly, unawarely, prepared, evasive action, unaware and short.

What is the same meaning of taken aback?

: to surprise or shock (someone) —usually used as (be) taken aback When I told him my answer, he seemed taken aback. —often + by He was taken aback by her answer.

Is taken aback negative?

Of the two, "taken aback" is stronger, in my opinion. It's also exclusively a negative reaction, as far as I know. "I was surprised by my friends at the airport" is a positive experience. You couldn't substitute "I was taken aback by my friends at the airport" and have the same positive tone to it.