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
Kelsey Glennon, Travel + Leisure, 22 Dec. 2024
For Cardellini, who never thought the show would be so popular that people would be celebrating its 25th anniversary, this turn of events still feels shocking.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Dec. 2024
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
On a recent trip to Miami for Art Basel, my fitness tracker clocked over 20,000 steps (a shocking 11 miles in one day).
—Kelsey Glennon, Travel + Leisure, 22 Dec. 2024
For Cardellini, who never thought the show would be so popular that people would be celebrating its 25th anniversary, this turn of events still feels shocking.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Dec. 2024
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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Dodging may have saved a few North Koreans last weekend, but the 11th Army Corps’ overall casualties were still startling high.David Axe, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
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That also included a startling new development for Shadows: genuine emotion, at least on occasion.Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Three years later, Dex's death deals a major blow to several key characters on the long-running soap, potentially introduces a terrifying new killer, and leaves behind plenty of questions as to how the series will proceed without him.Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 13 Dec. 2024
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In the early hours of New Year's Day 2021 in Canton, Georgia, Morgan Metzer was awakened to a terrifying sight.Michael Loftus, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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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
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And to sit up there, man, and to be just blatantly hypocritical is funny and sickening at the same time.Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Prehistoric Rock Art Sites Created 'Multisensory Experience' For Hunter-Gatherers By Aristos Georgiou Science and Health Reporter 0 A collection of prehistoric human remains has revealed gruesome insights into a brutal massacre that took place more than 4,000 years ago.Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
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Police think the gruesome gunshot death is suicide.Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In August 2024, the United States, also a major plastic and oil producer, announced a surprising policy shift by now committing to support limits on plastic production as well.Susan Solomon, WIRED, 14 Dec. 2024
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Jamie Foxx's birthday dinner took a surprising turn on Friday the 13th.Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Or maybe the next gen of AI swerves us even deeper into the uncanny valley in yet unknown and frightening ways.Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 18 Dec. 2024
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In the dark winter months, Krampus associations in villages hold parades, playfully frightening onlookers on Krampusnacht by chasing them and hitting them with sticks during a run through the streets.Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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That ends up dislodging the disgusting foreign item in Larry's throat.Esther Zuckerman, TIME, 12 Dec. 2024
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Leigh goes for the gags in this one, from Broadbent’s workplace pratfall to friend of the family Aubrey’s (Timothy Spall) disgusting new restaurant.Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Former detainees at the horrific Saydnaya prison near Damascus said Amer had disappeared in mid-April 2015 after being tortured there.Raja Razek, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
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Eric Gordon was also supposed to provide some secondary ball-handling off the bench in theory, but the soon-to-be 36-year-old is off to a horrific start this season.Bryan Toporek, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near shocking
Cite this Entry
“Shocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shocking. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
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