Synonyms of shocking

shocking 1 of 2

adjective

ˈshä-kiŋ 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• startling
• surprising
• amazing
• stunning
• astonishing
• unexpected
• wonderful
• incredible
• breathtaking
• awesome
• astounding
• stupefying
• jolting
• miraculous
• jarring
• jaw-dropping
• awful
• flabbergasting
• dumbfounding
• dumfounding
• unusual
• staggering
• marvellous
• extraordinary
• spectacular
• eye-opening
• remarkable
• impressive
• blindsiding
• uncommon
• confusing
• upsetting
• sensational
• perplexing
• unforeseen
• dismaying
• wondrous
• stupendous
• disconcerting
• unanticipated
• unlikely
• unbelievable
• marvelous
• sublime
• rare
• inconceivable
• unthinkable
• unimaginable
• confounding
• incomprehensible
• striking
• noticeable
• bewildering
• phenomenal
• portentous
• outstanding
• discomfiting
• unannounced
• prodigious
• fabulous
• befuddling
• heart-stopping
• notable
• nonplusing
• conspicuous
• unwonted
• nonplussing
• flustering
• unique
• muddling
• singular

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unsurprising
• normal
• common
• ordinary
• typical
• usual
• customary
• mundane
• unremarkable
• unexceptional

2

as in terrifying

causing fear

the shocking appearance of a shark just a few yards off shore

Synonyms & Similar Words

• terrifying
• frightening
• scary
• horrible
• formidable
• terrible
• alarming
• intimidating
• horrifying
• startling
• dread
• fearful
• dreadful
• eerie
• creepy
• troubling
• ghastly
• gruesome
• disturbing
• horrendous
• forbidding
• frightful
• dire
• trying
• direful
• spine-chilling
• fearsome
• eery
• threatening
• dismaying
• disconcerting
• hair-raising
• unnerving
• redoubtable
• discouraging
• disquieting
• demoralizing
• daunting
• perturbing
• distressing
• weird
• hideous
• appalling
• grisly
• nightmarish
• awful
• macabre
• horrid
• monstrous
• bone-chilling
• atrocious
• grewsome

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reassuring
• comforting
• relaxing
• soothing
• calming
• inviting
• consoling
• tranquilizing
• quieting
• nonthreatening
• tranquillizing
• lulling
• pacifying
• nonintimidating

3

as in sickening

causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment

the shocking behavior of some rowdies at the dance

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sickening
• disgusting
• ugly
• horrible
• awful
• hideous
• obscene
• offensive
• dreadful
• obnoxious
• nasty
• unpleasant
• appalling
• gruesome
• revolting
• scandalous
• evil
• gross
• repulsive
• horrific
• terrible
• abhorrent
• horrid
• repugnant
• disturbing
• nauseating
• abominable
• horrendous
• loathsome
• distasteful
• odious
• repellent
• noxious
• foul
• nauseous
• undesirable
• rancid
• fulsome
• vile
• noisome
• horrifying
• repellant
• unwanted
• monstrous
• hateful
• objectionable
• grim
• disagreeable
• miserable
• detestable
• despicable
• grisly
• unspeakable
• heinous
• contemptible
• nightmarish
• upsetting
• ghastly
• sick
• unwelcome
• macabre
• atrocious
• unhealthy
• brackish
• hard
• lurid
• unsavory
• unwholesome
• frightful
• dislikeable
• distressing
• exceptionable
• dislikable
• execrable
• barbarous
• lousy
• sickly
• uncivilized
• ungodly
• unholy
• unchristian
• off-putting
• sickish
• grewsome

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• innocuous
• acceptable
• desirable
• delightful
• attractive
• pleasant
• appealing
• gratifying
• sweet
• delicious
• inoffensive
• satisfying
• welcome
• nice
• alluring
• enjoyable
• pleasurable
• agreeable
• dreamy
• pleasing
• congenial
• heavenly
• palatable
• delectable
• likable
• likeable
• inviting
• felicitous
• luscious
• darling
• blessed
• savory
• savoury
• blest
• dulcet
• unobjectionable
• salutary
• healthy
• unexceptionable
• wholesome
• healthful
• salubrious
• restorative
• delightsome

4

as in gruesome

extremely disturbing or repellent

a soldier who had witnessed the shocking sight of his best friend being killed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gruesome
• horrific
• frightening
• nightmare
• horrifying
• horrible
• terrible
• terrifying
• terrific
• appalling
• sickening
• awful
• dreadful
• scary
• hideous
• grisly
• nightmarish
• horrid
• macabre
• disgusting
• ghastly
• horrendous
• atrocious
• alarming
• monstrous
• lurid
• frightful
• fearful
• grewsome
• ugly
• revolting
• obscene
• repulsive
• grotesque
• dire
• offensive
• formidable
• intimidating
• deplorable
• repugnant
• gut-wrenching
• loathsome
• abhorrent
• forbidding
• disagreeable
• unspeakable
• heinous
• obnoxious
• distasteful
• abominable
• fearsome
• direful
• heart-stopping
• odious
• nauseating
• evil
• bloodcurdling
• vile
• hair-raising
• redoubtable
• noxious
• unsightly
• noisome
• foul

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• attractive
• pleasant
• delightful
• appealing
• welcome
• delicious
• satisfying
• enjoyable
• enticing
• pleasurable
• pleasing
• agreeable
• delectable
• inviting
• comforting
• soothing
• cheering

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• appalling
• horrifying
• startling
• stunning
• frightening
• astonishing
• scaring
• terrifying
• alarming
• jolting
• shaking
• disgusting
• amazing
• outraging
• shaking up
• overwhelming
• sickening
• dumbfounding
• flabbergasting
• stupefying
• disturbing
• dismaying
• upsetting
• astounding
• revolting
• nauseating
• flooring
• panicking
• distressing
• frighting
• scarifying
• disconcerting
• dumfounding
• unsettling
• terrorizing
• disquieting
• unnerving
• displeasing
• scandalizing
• freaking (out)
• spooking
• daunting
• knocking for a loop
• discomforting
• affrighting
• offending
• dispiriting
• bowling over
• perturbing
• awing
• demoralizing
• repelling
• chilling
• emasculating
• undoing
• alaruming
• turning off
• overpowering
• unmanning
• discomposing
• crushing
• weirding out
• unstringing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gratifying
• charming
• pleasing
• rejoicing
• cushioning
• delighting
• tempting
• enticing
• comforting
• tickling
• assuring
• buffering
• reassuring
• cheering
• soothing
• consoling
• solacing

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• surprising
• startling
• amazing
• astonishing
• stunning
• rocking
• astounding
• surprizing
• dumbfounding
• flabbergasting
• stupefying
• dumfounding
• bewildering
• perplexing
• taking by surprise
• disconcerting
• bowling over
• thunderstriking
• confusing
• jarring
• befuddling
• dismaying
• taking aback
• discomfiting
• blindsiding
• nonplussing
• flooring
• dazing
• blowing away
• shaking up
• muddling
• confounding
• nonplusing
• knocking for a loop

3

as in frightening

to strike with fear

the sudden appearance of the ghost shocked us to the core

Synonyms & Similar Words

• frightening
• startling
• terrifying
• scaring
• horrifying
• alarming
• spooking
• shaking
• scarifying
• terrorizing
• appalling
• panicking
• frighting
• amazing
• affrighting
• astounding
• alaruming
• dismaying
• making one's flesh crawl
• disturbing
• jolting
• distracting
• giving one the creeps
• making one's flesh creep
• unsettling
• disconcerting
• worrying
• distressing
• shaking up
• disquieting
• daunting
• unnerving
• upsetting
• dispiriting
• discomforting
• awing
• bowling over
• perturbing
• emasculating
• demoralizing
• chilling
• undoing
• psyching (out)
• flooring
• discomposing
• unmanning
• unstringing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reassuring
• comforting
• assuring
• cheering
• soothing
• consoling
• encouraging
• inspiring
• solacing
• heartening
• emboldening
• steeling

Examples of shocking in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

So that’s been really kind of shocking to me that eventually Disney bought Fox. —Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2024

Liam Payne Authorities are pressing forward in their investigation into the circumstances surrounding Liam Payne’s shocking death this week. —Alexandra Banner, CNN, 18 Oct. 2024

These opinions may be shocking to many in the Western world. —Alexander Smith, NBC News, 18 Oct. 2024

The number of QBs making plays with their legs or the amount of dink and dunk passing might be shocking to a fan who time traveled from the 1970s and stumbled into an NFL stadium in 2024. —Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 12 Oct. 2024