appalling

adjective

ap·​pall·​ing ə-ˈpȯ-liŋ How to pronounce appalling (audio)
Synonyms of appalling
: inspiring horror, dismay, or disgust
living under appalling conditions
appalling savagery
appallingly adverb

Synonyms of appalling

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Examples of appalling in a Sentence

We drove by an appalling accident on the highway. opening your mouth to show me your half-chewed food is absolutely appalling
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Trump paid them substandard wages, and their working conditions were appalling. — Kai Bird, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 By 2023, that number had fallen to roughly 107,000 — an appalling 45% decline. — Laurel Donnellan, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 But in making one of those abusers a New York mogul with an appalling interest in underage girls, Meriwether knowingly conjures the ghost of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. — Alison Herman, Variety, 27 July 2026 The appalling truth about cyclospora is that humans are its lone source. — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for appalling

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of appall

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of appalling was in 1635

Rhymes for appalling

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Browse Nearby Words

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appalling
appallingly
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Cite this Entry

“Appalling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appalling. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

appalling

adjective
ap·​pall·​ing
ə-ˈpȯl-iŋ
: inspiring horror or dismay : shocking
appallingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on appalling

Nglish: Translation of appalling for Spanish Speakers

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