shocked

adjective

ˈshäkt 

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

Synonyms

• amazed
• astonished
• astounded
• awestruck
• awestricken
• bowled over
• dumbfounded
• dumfounded
• dumbstruck
• flabbergasted
• stunned
• stupefied
• thunderstruck

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

The officer opened the bag in front of the passenger and was shocked to see what was inside: 82 fireworks, three knives, two replica firearms and a canister of pepper spray — none of which are allowed in carry-on luggage. —Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024

Virgin River season 5 recap: Wildfire brings new love and shocking revelations to the town In the present, Mel’s shocked that this is her parents’ meet cute. —Sara Netzley, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024

A couple people seem shocked, while others just smile politely. —Nick Caruso, TVLine, 18 Dec. 2024

Pink was also left shocked when a fan threw ashes onto the stage at BST Hyde Park in London in June 2023, while Bebe Rexha was left with a black eye when she was hit by a phone during her concert at The Rooftop at Pier 17 that same month. —Latoya Gayle, People.com, 15 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing shocked

• shell-shocked
• shocked and dismayed