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
The wild child of rock n' roll had found a whole new generation to appal.
From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2022
It needs films that challenge and disturb, that appal and revolt; that have us bolting towards the exit in search of a stiff drink at 10am.
From The Guardian ● May 18, 2018
"That a man can be targeted when he is attending a hospital to visit his wife and newly born son continues to appal all right-minded members of society."
From BBC ● Dec. 6, 2013
Oh! ere they bleed, Let Nature's voice thy ruthless heart appal!
From Heathen Mythology by Various
Roberts told the BBC she was "appalled but not surprised" by the decision.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Harrods, which since 2010 has been owned by the sovereign-wealth fund of Qatar, issued a public apology in 2024 and said it was appalled by the abuse allegations against Al Fayed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
"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
Stanton was appalled when she heard about the fiasco.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
The judge added: "It constituted an appalling betrayal of trust."
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
Judge John Morris KC told Nabizada he had committed an "appalling betrayal of trust" during sentencing after he was found unanimously guilty at a High Court trial last month.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
"At that point, I told the people with me let's go there for work... let's try our luck too," she added, saying she wanted to leave for Europe because she works "under appalling conditions".
From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026
Hilliard said Bush was motivated by "financial greed" and was "so preoccupied with his own enrichment" he allowed the site to descend into an "appalling" state.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
Shining my headlamp in his direction, I reflexively recoiled when I saw the appalling condition of his face.
From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer
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.
