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:
The wild child of rock n' roll had found a whole new generation to appal.
From BBC ● Oct. 28, 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
Then, the plan held, overreaction from these groups would appal “normies”, or normal, average Americans.
From The Guardian ● Oct. 15, 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
Think over all thou might'st have been, Contrast it then with all thou art: A retrospect so dark and keen May well appal thy shuddering heart.
From Trevethlan (Vol 3 of 3) A Cornish Story. by William Davy Watson
Zimmer had been appalled by Harvard’s actions after the attacks and troubled by the ensuing antisemitism on campus, said people who know him, a time when one of his daughters had been a student there.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
The Yosemite NPS Employees Union said it was "appalled" by the ceding of public lands for private interests, calling the proposed trade "antithetical to what we stand for" as stewards of the park.
From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026
Kris is a queer filmmaker taking on the task of reclaiming the slasher horror film-within-the-film, “Camp Miasma,” rebooting it for the queer community to no longer be appalled by.
From Salon ● Aug. 27, 2026
He also tried to subtly rebut concerns among those who had watched the debate and were appalled by Graham’s gaffe.
From Slate ● Aug. 25, 2026
Even though he had been seeing her outfits for years, the sight of his mother in full regalia always slightly appalled his valve.
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
He added: "I hope they realise the gravity of their actions and get some help to take a different path from the appalling criminal one they have chosen."
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
First Minister John Swinney called it an "absolutely appalling case".
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 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
First Minister John Swinney called it an "absolutely appalling case", and said her family would be supported by the Scottish government and the FCDO.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
“I never dreamed I’d owe my life to such an appalling article of clothing,” said Horace, testing the sweater’s wool between his fingers.
From "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs
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.
