shocking

[ shok-ing ]

adjective

1. causing intense surprise, disgust, horror, etc.

   Synonyms: appalling, startling, astounding, staggering

2. very bad:

   shocking manners.

shocking

/ ˈʃɒkɪŋ /

adjective

1. causing shock, horror, or disgust
2. shocking pink
   shocking pink a vivid or garish shade of pink
3. informal.
   very bad or terrible

   shocking weather

Derived Forms

• ˈshockingly, adverb
• ˈshockingness, noun

Other Words From

• shocking·ly adverb
• shocking·ness noun
• un·shocking adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shocking¹

First recorded in 1685–95; shock ¹ + -ing ²

Example Sentences

A nursing home reform advocate said the plummeting number of substantiated complaints was shocking, and a surveyor from Southern California said officials are just now working on complaints from March, suggesting the agency is dealing with a backlog.

From Voice of San Diego

An advocate for nursing home reform called the drop shocking, and one surveyor indicated officials are only now working on complaints from March.

From Voice of San Diego

Through matchweek 16, the Foxes were a shocking 6 points ahead of third-place Manchester City and just 8 points behind Liverpool at the top.

From FiveThirtyEight

So, if you find one data point that is educational, newsworthy, shocking, and relevant- build on it.

From Search Engine Watch

As she licked the 200 envelopes, Susan became dizzy and, in a shocking twist, died at the hospital.

From No Straight News

Is there any better Beyoncé lyric to use in response to the most shocking celebrity tape this side of One Night in Paris?

From The Daily Beast

It was also the most shocking revelation of 2014: Beyoncé Knowles is not perfect.

From The Daily Beast

It was shocking to find out that the rape by Beebe was actually the last one of the night.

From The Daily Beast

Playful and gory, the cartoonish paintings of Dee Dee Ramone, bassist for The Ramones, are every bit as shocking as their creator.

From The Daily Beast

READ MORE: Shocking New Reveals From Sony Hack: J. Law, Pitt, Clooney, and Star Wars Which brings us to the inimitable Kanye West.

From The Daily Beast

My schooling was shocking but, as a blessed compensation, my college stage was rather exceptionally good.

From Project Gutenberg

He was saved thereby, and went into the harvest with Bill and George again shocking as they had done years before.

From Project Gutenberg

This shocking event, however, seems to have quickened the King's resolution to leave Brazil.

From Project Gutenberg

To reprove or speak sharply to a servant before your guests, manifests a shocking want of good breeding.

From Project Gutenberg

Where are the days when Donald considered it shocking to introduce music into divine service?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• appalling
• awful
• disgraceful
• disgusting
• disquieting
• distressing
• dreadful
• ghastly
• heinous
• horrible
• horrific
• horrifying
• shameful
• terrible
• ugly