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definitions

shocking

[shok-ing]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR shocking ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

causing intense surprise, disgust, horror, etc.
very bad: shocking manners.

Origin of shocking

First recorded in 1685–95; shock1 + -ing2
Related formsshock·ing·ly, adverbshock·ing·ness, nounun·shock·ing, adjective

Synonyms for shocking

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR shocking ON THESAURUS.COM
1. staggering, astounding, startling, appalling.

shock

1
[shok]

noun

a sudden and violent blow or impact; collision.
a sudden or violent disturbance or commotion: the shock of battle.
a sudden or violent disturbance of the mind, emotions, or sensibilities: The burglary was a shock to her sense of security. The book provided a shock, nothing more.
the cause of such a disturbance: The rebuke came as a shock.
Pathology. a collapse of circulatory function, caused by severe injury, blood loss, or disease, and characterized by pallor, sweating, weak pulse, and very low blood pressure.Compare anaphylactic shock, cardiogenic shock, hypovolemic shock.
the physiological effect produced by the passage of an electric current through the body.
shocks, Informal. shock absorbers, especially in the suspension of an automobile.

verb (used with object)

to strike or jar with intense surprise, horror, disgust, etc.: He enjoyed shocking people.
to strike against violently.
to give an electric shock to.

verb (used without object)

to undergo a shock.

Origin of shock

1
1555–65; < Middle French choc armed encounter, noun derivative of choquer to clash (in battle) < Germanic; compare Dutch schokken to shake, jolt, jerk
Related formsshock·a·ble, adjectiveshock·a·bil·i·ty, nounshock·ed·ness, nounshock·like, adjectiveun·shock·a·bil·i·ty, nounun·shock·a·ble, adjective

Synonyms for shock

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR shock ON THESAURUS.COM
8. stagger, astound, stupefy. Shock, startle, paralyze, stun suggest a sudden, sharp surprise that affects one somewhat like a blow. Shock suggests a strong blow, as it were, to one's nerves, sentiments, sense of decency, etc.: The onlookers were shocked by the accident. Startle implies the sharp surprise of sudden fright: to be startled by a loud noise. Paralyze implies such a complete shock as to render one temporarily helpless: paralyzed with fear. Stun implies such a shock as bewilders or stupefies: stunned by the realization of an unpleasant truth.

shock

2
[shok]

noun

a group of sheaves of grain placed on end and supporting one another in the field.

verb (used with object)

to make into shocks.

Origin of shock

2
1275–1325; Middle English; cognate with Low German schok shock of grain, group of sixty, German Schock sixty
Related formsshock·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for shocking

distressing, dreadful, terrible, horrific, disquieting, disgusting, appalling, heinous, ugly, shameful, horrible, awful, disgraceful, ghastly, horrifying, glaring, burning, foul, revolting, sickening

Examples from the Web for shocking

Contemporary Examples of shocking

Historical Examples of shocking

  • And to his astonishment there was none of the shocking effect of his first drink of whisky.

  • The attack must have all the shocking senselessness of gratuitous blasphemy.

    The Secret Agent

    Joseph Conrad

  • And he had too plainly crossed North America in this shocking state!

    Ruggles of Red Gap

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • There are some natures, I believe, which after a shock turn and flee from the shocking agent.

    The First Violin

    Jessie Fothergill

  • Ah, we Neapolitans, we may be shocking; but at least we are sincere!

    A Spirit in Prison

    Robert Hichens

British Dictionary definitions for shocking

shocking

adjective

causing shock, horror, or disgust
shocking pink a vivid or garish shade of pink
informal very bad or terribleshocking weather
Derived Formsshockingly, adverbshockingness, noun

shock

1

verb

to experience or cause to experience extreme horror, disgust, surprise, etcthe atrocities shocked us; she shocks easily
to cause a state of shock in (a person)
to come or cause to come into violent contact; jar

noun

a sudden and violent jarring blow or impact
something that causes a sudden and violent disturbance in the emotionsthe shock of her father's death made her ill
pathol a state of bodily collapse or near collapse caused by circulatory failure or sudden lowering of the blood pressure, as from severe bleeding, burns, fright, etc
pathol pain and muscular spasm as the physical reaction to an electric current passing through the body
Derived Formsshockable, adjectiveshockability, noun

Word Origin for shock

C16: from Old French choc, from choquier to make violent contact with, of Germanic origin; related to Middle High German schoc

shock

2

noun

a number of sheaves set on end in a field to dry
a pile or stack of unthreshed corn

verb

(tr) to set up (sheaves) in shocks

Word Origin for shock

C14: probably of Germanic origin; compare Middle Low German, Middle Dutch schok shock of corn, group of sixty

shock

3

noun

a thick bushy mass, esp of hair

adjective

rare bushy; shaggy

Word Origin for shock

C19: perhaps from shock ²
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
Word Origin and History for shocking
adj.

1690s, "offensive," present participle adjective from shock (v.1). From 1704 as "causing a jolt of indignation, horror, etc.;" from 1798 as "so bad as to be shocking." Related: Shockingly. Shocking pink introduced February 1937 by Italian-born fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli.

shock

n.1

1560s, "violent encounter of armed forces or a pair of warriors," a military term, from Middle French choc "violent attack," from Old French choquer "strike against," probably from Frankish, from a Proto-Germanic imitative base (cf. Middle Dutch schokken "to push, jolt," Old High German scoc "jolt, swing").

Meaning "a sudden blow" is from 1610s; meaning "a sudden and disturbing impression on the mind" is from 1705. Sense of "feeling of being (mentally) shocked" is from 1876. Medical sense is attested from 1804 (it also once meant "seizure, stroke," 1794). Shock-absorber is attested from 1906 (short form shocks attested by 1961); shock wave is from 1907. Shock troops (1917) translates German stoßtruppen and preserves the word's original military sense. Shock therapy is from 1917; shock treatment from 1938.

shock

n.2

"bundle of grain," early 14c., from Middle Low German schok "shock of corn," originally "group of sixty," from Proto-Germanic *skukka- (cf. Old Saxon skok, Dutch schok "sixty pieces; shock of corn;" German schock "sixty," Hocke "heap of sheaves"). In 16c.-17c. English the word sometimes meant "60-piece lot," from trade with the Dutch.

shock

n.3

"thick mass of hair," 1819, from earlier shock (adj.) "having thick hair" (1680s), and a noun sense of "lap dog having long, shaggy hair" (1630s), from shough (1590s), the name for this type of dog, which was said to have been brought originally from Iceland; the word is perhaps from the source of shock (n.2), or from an Old Norse variant of shag (n.). Shock-headed Peter was used in 19c. translations for German Struwwelpeter.

shock

v.1

"to come into violent contact, strike against suddenly and violently," 1570s, now archaic or obsolete, from shock (n.1). Meaning "to give (something) an electric shock" is from 1746; sense of "to offend, displease" is first recorded 1690s.

shock

v.2

"arrange (grain) in a shock," mid-15c., from shock (n.2). Related: Shocked; shocking.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
shocking in Medicine

shock

[shŏk]

n.

Something that jars the mind or emotions as if with a violent, unexpected blow.
The disturbance of function, equilibrium, or mental faculties caused by such a blow; violent agitation.
A generally temporary massive physiological reaction to severe physical or emotional trauma, usually characterized by marked loss of blood pressure and depression of vital processes.
The sensation and muscular spasm caused by an electric current passing through the body or a body part.
The abnormally palpable impact of an accentuated heartbeat felt by a hand on the chest wall.

v.

To induce a state of physical shock in a person.
To subject a person to an electric shock.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
shocking in Science

shock

[shŏk]

An instance of the passage of an electric current through the body. The amount of injury caused by electric shock depends on the type and strength of the current, the length of time the current is applied, and the route the current takes once it enters the body.
A life-threatening condition marked by a severe drop in blood pressure, resulting from serious injury or illness.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Idioms and Phrases with shocking

shock

see culture shock.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.