1
a
: affected by shock : stricken with sudden mental or emotional disturbance
"Oh, no!" Mrs. Quimby was shocked. "How much is that going to cost?"Beverly Cleary
… I am so shocked to see him that I do not know what to do.Jane Austen
b
: showing or expressing shock
Her voice faltered as she saw the shocked amazement on her father's face.Mary Norton
In place of a roar at the end of the year's most anticipated race, there was only a shocked silence.Tim Layden
2
of a mineral : having a crystal structure that has been deformed by exposure to sudden extremely high pressure (as from a meteorite impact or a nuclear blast)
Grains of shocked quartz have long been used as criteria for impact (extraterrestrial objects or nuclear bombs) …Stephen Jay Gould

Examples of shocked in a Sentence

the escaping bridegroom bid farewell to the shocked wedding guests as he ran out the door we were shocked at the appalling conditions in the prison the hikers were so shocked at the sight of a bear that they didn't dare move
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.
And it’s paid off; Laymon notes that several people are surprised to see his name in the end credits and even more shocked to realize that the grizzled man sporting scruffy stubble is Stewart. Jenelle Riley, Variety, 21 Mar. 2025 His illness had only been shared with the world days prior, and his departure from shocked and saddened fans of the group. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025 In the video, a shocked Dobrev walks into a room full of white rose petals complete with a beautiful flower archway. Colson Thayer, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025 Short beat out Adam Brody, Ted Danson, Harrison Ford and White in the comedy actor category before Only Murders won for best ensemble in a comedy series, which was accepted by a shocked Gomez. Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shocked

Word History

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of shocked was in 1675

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Cite this Entry

“Shocked.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shocked. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

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