shocking 1 of 2

adjective

ˈshä-kiŋ How to pronounce shocking (audio)
Definition of shockingnext
1
as in startling
causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness we all clustered around to hear the shocking news of our colleague's sudden death

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2
as in terrifying
causing fear the shocking appearance of a shark just a few yards off shore

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3
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment the shocking behavior of some rowdies at the dance

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4
as in gruesome
extremely disturbing or repellent a soldier who had witnessed the shocking sight of his best friend being killed

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shocking

2 of 2

verb

present participle of shock
1
as in appalling
to cause an unpleasant surprise for Mom was shocked by the terrible news that her cousin had died in an accident I was shocked to find out that I was the victim of identity theft

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2
as in surprising
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected were shocked by the way the law against public intoxication was constantly being broken

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3
as in frightening
to strike with fear the sudden appearance of the ghost shocked us to the core

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of shocking
Adjective
There’s nothing that’s going to be shocking about the process. — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026 The day after the shocking arrests of a former Mount Vernon public safety official and her son, questions are growing within the law enforcement community about how one of the police department's top leaders was vetted. — Mahsa Saeidi, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
During the episode, as the judges were reviewing a contestant’s dish, Meghan received a surprise video call from her husband— shocking the contestants and other judges in the room. — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 26 July 2026 Shanahan already gives his defensive coordinators shocking autonomy. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for shocking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shocking
  1. startling
  2. terrifying
  3. disgusting
  4. gruesome
  5. appalling
  6. surprising
  7. frightening
  8. amazing
Adjective
  • Residents of a Newark, New Jersey, apartment complex got a startling wakeup call Sunday morning when police in tactical gear, responding to reports of multiple people shot, stormed their building.
    — Andrew Ramos, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • In New York and elsewhere, socialists have also performed well, startling establishment figures who favor more traditional positions on capitalist economic policies, among other issues.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of startling
Adjective
  • The monsters when finally shown in the light are more shrug worthy than creepy or terrifying.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The great slope of Mulholland’s concrete gravity dam in the Hollywood Hills — a model for the one that failed — was covered with dirt to disguise its terrifying height.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of terrifying
Adjective
  • To interrogate Fauci now, for absolutely no coherent reason and completely without sense, is shameful and disgusting.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The left's most hated author — JK Rowling — has dropped the hammer on the disgusting things that took place at the Indiana Fever-Seattle Storm game earlier this week.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of disgusting
Adjective
  • Burke was not merely a rising star grappling with new fame, prosecutors contend, but a killer carrying a gruesome secret.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The massacre left the community reeling from the losses and the gruesome nature of the victims’ deaths.
    — Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of gruesome
Verb
  • The young Forster recoiled from the school’s culture of authoritarianism and militaristic chauvinism, which may have found expression in the students’ often appalling attitudes toward their own mothers.
    — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 7 May 2026
  • Of all the recent poster boys for appalling misbehavior by the State Police, Michael Proctor would of course rank number one.
    — Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
Definition of appalling
Verb
  • Duff also offered fans the ultimate throwback by surprising the crowd with Good Charlotte.
    — Shelby Stivale, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The first episode of the high-stakes show will feature Marcus Samuelsson surprising Flay by joining his restaurant Hav & Mar’s team alongside his executive chef Fariyal Abdullahi.
    — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026
Definition of surprising
Verb
  • Powell tried to open the stall door, and then began fondling himself, frightening the 11-year-old, who tried to leave, but Powell blocked him from getting out.
    — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 6 June 2026
  • This war has been a disaster for them, frightening away foreign investors, tourists and talent and burdening them with a future of huge new defense bills to deter Iran after the United States is gone.
    — Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
Definition of frightening
Adjective
  • The sense of antiquity is preserved (stone staircases worn smooth by the centuries, wooden shutters in the bedrooms), but there’s no shortage of modern amenities, from the amazing Duxiana beds to bathrooms with rain showers.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
  • But there’s so many amazing female filmmakers out there as well, who are making really cool films and doing amazing work.
    — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of amazing

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shockers
shocking
shockingly
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Cite this Entry

“Shocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shocking. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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