: extremely startling, distressing, or offensive
shocking news
Examples of shocking in a Sentence
The number of young teenagers who smoke is shocking.
a shocking waste of money
The building is in a shocking state.
Recent Examples on the Web
Leaders around the world have responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s shocking new tariffs that threaten to upend the global economy with stern words and denunciations.
—
Chad De Guzman, Time, 4 Apr. 2025
The couple shared their shocking experience in a now-viral TikTok video, warning others about the dangers of unsafe food handling.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025
The game costs $70, which aligns with current industry trends—unlike Mario Kart World's shocking $80 price tag.
—Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 3 Apr. 2025
In that context, some of its top stars, like Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka have made shocking statements about the league.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shocking
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.
Chad De Guzman, Time, 4 Apr. 2025
The couple shared their shocking experience in a now-viral TikTok video, warning others about the dangers of unsafe food handling.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025
The game costs $70, which aligns with current industry trends—unlike Mario Kart World's shocking $80 price tag.
—Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 3 Apr. 2025
In that context, some of its top stars, like Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka have made shocking statements about the league.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shocking
Cite this Entry
“Shocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shocking. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shocking
adjective
shock·ing
: causing horror or disgust
a shocking crime
shocking behavior
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share