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Synonyms

shocking

American  
[shok-ing] / ˈʃɒk ɪŋ /

adjective

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

    Synonyms:
    appalling, startling, astounding, staggering
  2. very bad.

    shocking manners.


shocking British  
/ ˈʃɒkɪŋ /

adjective

  1. causing shock, horror, or disgust

  2. a vivid or garish shade of pink

  3. informal very bad or terrible

    shocking weather

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of shocking

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

Vocabulary lists containing shocking

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.

Plastic surgeon Dalvi Humzah, who reviewed the footage, described these practices as "shocking" and "very dangerous".

From BBC • Jul. 5, 2026

Thus, this shocking program was exploiting doctors and the trust inherent in their relationships with patients, and it was also divisive among the many hardworking physicians.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 2, 2026

"What happened to him was shocking," petition organiser Taro Tsurugashima said of Kumar, who ran a restaurant in Saitama, near Tokyo, for 18 years.

From Barron's • Jul. 1, 2026

Spike Lee’s masterpiece was met with hand-wringing when it arrived in theaters 37 summers ago, with white critics fretting how “urban audiences” would react to its shocking ending of brutality and angry protest.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2026

“I think Oak is the least shocking part of what you have to tell her,” I say.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

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