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 sickening
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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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of shocking
Fox News Staff, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025
There are no checks and balances in a world where only charisma matters, no rule of law in a world where emotion defeats reason—only a void that anyone with a shocking and compelling story can fill.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2025
Daniel D'addario, Variety, 21 Oct. 2024
But rather than play up the murders’ shocking gore or give momentum to Lois’ investigation, the first few episodes are content to linger in the investigator’s ennui.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shocking 
Adjective
Sean Payton and Bo Nix delivered a shocking success story to Denver this year amid low expectations.
—Fox News Staff, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025
There are no checks and balances in a world where only charisma matters, no rule of law in a world where emotion defeats reason—only a void that anyone with a shocking and compelling story can fill.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
In the show’s two signature numbers, both of them Norma’s declarations of her own worthiness, Scherzinger stands at center stage and belts with shocking vocal power and agility, surrounded by purgatorial swirls of smoke and blown out by that Lloydian white light.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 21 Oct. 2024
But rather than play up the murders’ shocking gore or give momentum to Lois’ investigation, the first few episodes are content to linger in the investigator’s ennui.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shocking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shocking
Adjective
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These were the size of carnival one-sheets, and full of startling clip-art imagery (a screaming head, a creepy baby in a mobcap) and aggressive block capitals, announcing the circus was back in town.Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2025
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But also to both the vital everyday structures and the cultural monuments that helped mark this place’s stunning achievements, told its citizens’ stories and embodied its startling confluence of talent, originality and freedom.Sam Lubell, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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What’s more terrifying than losing control of your physical and mental self as your most primal, animalistic instincts take the wheel?David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 Jan. 2025
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The stability and flexibility around Josh Allen makes for a terrifying formula.Derrik Klassen, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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While the American food supply is among the safest in the world, the Food and Drug Administration estimates that there are about 48 million cases of foodborne illness annually – the equivalent of sickening 1 in 6 Americans each year.Jennie Key, The Enquirer, 27 Dec. 2024
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Los Angeles County is suing the owner of Chiquita Canyon Landfill for failing to control a high-temperature chemical reaction that is cooking garbage and sickening nearby residents.Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Ten people were murdered in the New York City subway system last year — including the recent, random and gruesome immolation of a homeless New Jersey woman asleep on a Brooklyn train — up from five murders in 2023.Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 16 Jan. 2025
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Did Hawthorne base these characters on the Rev. Ephraim Avery and his young congregant Sarah Maria Cornell, whose gruesome death in 1832 in Fall River, 50 miles south of Boston, shocked all of New England?Liesl Schillinger, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Miku's addition to Fortnite isn't surprising given that season 6 of the battle royale is celebrating Japanese culture and history.Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025
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That’s a surprising and sudden change, because we’ve been told for years that Meta is on a mission to protect users from misinformation and hate speech.John Brandon, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The glorious few who still worry about the decline of Palm Beach society speculated wildly that Trump was planning to legalize gambling and build a casino, or — the truly frightening possibility — subdivide his acreage and sell houses.Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
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In a cast full of mothers, the women are naturally sympathetic, triggered by the idea that something that frightening could happen to them too – only to be a little flummoxed at the full picture as more details started to come out.Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This woman is just an awful, disgusting person in general.Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2025
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Regardless of who wins, social media will be abuzz with the postgame mayo shower, which is either good comedy or downright disgusting, depending on your tolerance for condiments getting poured on people.Dan Santaromita, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The war that began with the horrific massacre on October 7th has devastated the region and led to the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians.Staff report, Hartford Courant, 15 Jan. 2025
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The horrific Palisades Fire may have started at a spot near the popular Temescal Ridge trail.Andrew Moseman, The Atlantic, 15 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near shocking
Cite this Entry
“Shocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shocking. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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