shocking

adjective

shock·​ing ˈshä-kiŋ How to pronounce shocking (audio)
: extremely startling, distressing, or offensive
shocking news
shockingly adverb

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
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.
The Sins Of The Brother Of course, the most shocking moment in this episode is something that’s been setup from the very first episode. Erik Kain, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025 The game was all but a formality — anything less than an Elite Eight run would be downright shocking. Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025 The series begins with his shocking arrest and traverses his first police interview; the detectives on the case at his school, groping for clarity on a senseless crime; and how his family navigates both their raw new reality and their past decisions. Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2025 Up until Cupp’s shocking revelation, the strongest suspects in Mr. Wynter’s murder were White House housekeeper Elsyie Chayle (Julieth Restrepo) and engineer Bruce Geller (Mel Rodriguez). Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 22 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shocking

Word History

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shocking was in 1653

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shocking. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

shocking

adjective
shock·​ing
: causing horror or disgust
a shocking crime
shocking behavior
shockingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on shocking

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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