- a variation of appall.
appal
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Etymology
Origin of appal
C14: from Old French appalir to turn pale
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Ruth Jones, Labour MP for Newport West, added that the situation "continued to appal".
From BBC ● Nov. 20, 2022
"I know this will shock and appal the local community and I want to assure them we will do all we can to identify and bring to justice those responsible."
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2022
“I’m often trying to either appal or amuse or entertain you with an idea,” he says, addressing her.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 1, 2019
Then, the plan held, overreaction from these groups would appal “normies”, or normal, average Americans.
From The Guardian ● Oct. 15, 2018
Yet the misfortunes which had overtaken her were enough to appal the stoutest heart.
From Life of Mary Queen of Scots, Volume II (of 2) by Bell, Henry Glassford
"It's like their lives didn't even matter. We're just really appalled by it all," her mother Michelle Jones told the ABC.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
Many Argentines say they, too, are appalled by such comments.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
When President Ulysses S. Grant sent the Declaration of Independence to Philadelphia to be displayed, the public was appalled by its condition, which led the government to establish the National Archives.
From Salon ● Jun. 30, 2026
“As a Troy resident, I am appalled that our own mayor, our own administration, can essentially write off the rights of a significant portion of people who pay their salaries,” one speaker said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
He was appalled that the man had stolen their mail—and their job offers.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
"We didn't think we could be any more shocked at their appalling treatment, but in this case we are absolutely flabbergasted," he added.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
“After watching football for decades, it is appalling to see how things have changed,” wrote one.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
The police and crime commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Donna Jones, said the ruling "represents an important acknowledgement of the seriousness and impact of these truly appalling crimes".
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
Liam Kelly, the chair of the Police Federation of Northern Ireland, said the report was a "clear, unmistakable and appalling indictment" of the failure of government to properly fund and support the PSNI.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
At this very moment, Stevens, his lordship is doing what he can to remove Foreign Office objections to this appalling idea.'
From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
