appalling

[uh-paw-ling]

adjective

1. causing dismay or horror.

   an appalling accident; an appalling lack of manners.

appalling

/ əˈpɔːlɪŋ /

adjective

1. causing extreme dismay, horror, or revulsion

2. very bad

Other Word Forms

• appallingly adverb
• unappalling adjective
• unappallingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of appalling¹

First recorded in 1810–20; appall + -ing ²

Example Sentences

“Here is something else I learned about the poor, Miss Lumley: They do not even bother to dress for dinner. It is really quite appalling. Margaret!” she screeched impatiently.

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Coverdale hung it up temporarily once before, after wrapping a Whitesnake world tour at the end of 1990, only to find himself “in an appalling, confused state across the board ... privately and professionally.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

You betrayed the trust of a number of women, in the most appalling ways imaginable.

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Indeed, Larry Summers, former Clinton administration Treasury secretary, called it “appalling” in an email to Epstein.

Read more on Salon

"That appalling headline, filled with lies and smears against Liverpool supporters, caused untold pain and trauma to the families of the 97 victims, survivors, and the wider Liverpool community," he wrote.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• alarming 
• astounding 
• awful 
• dire 
• disheartening 
• dreadful 
• frightening www.thesaurus.com
• frightful 
• ghastly 
• harrowing 
• hideous 
• horrible 
• horrific 
• shocking 
• terrible 
• terrifying