shocking

[ shok-ing ]

/ ˈʃɒk ɪŋ /

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See synonyms for: shocking / shockingly / shockingness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

causing intense surprise, disgust, horror, etc.

very bad: shocking manners.

OTHER WORDS FOR shocking

1 staggering, astounding, startling, appalling.

See synonyms for shocking on Thesaurus.com

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On the farm, the feed for chicks is significantly different from the roosters’; ______ not even comparable.

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Origin of shocking

First recorded in 1685–95; shock¹ + -ing²

OTHER WORDS FROM shocking

shock·ing·ly, adverbshock·ing·ness, nounun·shock·ing, adjective

Words nearby shocking

shock absorber, shocker, shock front, shockheaded, shock-horror, shocking, shocking pink, shock jock, Shockley, shock lung, shockproof

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use shocking in a sentence

A nursing home reform advocate said the plummeting number of substantiated complaints was shocking, and a surveyor from Southern California said officials are just now working on complaints from March, suggesting the agency is dealing with a backlog.
Morning Report: Nursing Home Oversight Falters|Voice of San Diego|August 26, 2020|Voice of San Diego
An advocate for nursing home reform called the drop shocking, and one surveyor indicated officials are only now working on complaints from March.
Confirmed Nursing Home Complaints Plummet During Pandemic|Jared Whitlock|August 25, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Through matchweek 16, the Foxes were a shocking 6 points ahead of third-place Manchester City and just 8 points behind Liverpool at the top.
Leicester City Seemed Like A Sure Thing For The Champions League. Not Anymore.|Terrence Doyle|July 15, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
So, if you find one data point that is educational, newsworthy, shocking, and relevant- build on it.
How to use headlines to help create and optimize content|Delaney Kline|June 16, 2020|Search Engine Watch

As she licked the 200 envelopes, Susan became dizzy and, in a shocking twist, died at the hospital.
Science of ‘Seinfeld’|LGBTQ-Editor|June 15, 2020|No Straight News
Is there any better Beyoncé lyric to use in response to the most shocking celebrity tape this side of One Night in Paris?
Yoncé Said Knock You Out: The Solange and Jay Z Story|Kevin O’Keeffe|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was also the most shocking revelation of 2014: Beyoncé Knowles is not perfect.
Butts, Brawls, and Bill Cosby: The Biggest Celebrity Scandals of 2014 |Kevin Fallon|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was shocking to find out that the rape by Beebe was actually the last one of the night.
I Was Gang Raped at a UVA Frat 30 Years Ago, and No One Did Anything|Liz Seccuro|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Playful and gory, the cartoonish paintings of Dee Dee Ramone, bassist for The Ramones, are every bit as shocking as their creator.
‘All Good Cretins Go to Heaven’: Dee Dee Ramone’s Twisted Punk Paintings|Melissa Leon|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
READ MORE: Shocking New Reveals From Sony Hack: J. Law, Pitt, Clooney, and Star Wars Which brings us to the inimitable Kanye West.
Exclusive: Sony Emails Reveal Destiny’s Child and Kanye West Movies, and Spidey Cameo in Capt. 3|William Boot|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
My schooling was shocking but, as a blessed compensation, my college stage was rather exceptionally good.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
He was saved thereby, and went into the harvest with Bill and George again shocking as they had done years before.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
This shocking event, however, seems to have quickened the King's resolution to leave Brazil.
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil|Maria Graham
To reprove or speak sharply to a servant before your guests, manifests a shocking want of good breeding.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley
Where are the days when Donald considered it shocking to introduce music into divine service?
Friend Mac Donald|Max O'Rell

British Dictionary definitions for shocking

shocking

/ (ˈʃɒkɪŋ) /

adjective

causing shock, horror, or disgust

shocking pink a vivid or garish shade of pink

informal very bad or terribleshocking weather

Derived forms of shocking

shockingly, adverbshockingness, noun

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

shocking

OTHER WORDS FOR shocking

Origin of shocking

OTHER WORDS FROM shocking

Words nearby shocking

Words related to shocking

How to use shocking in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for shocking

Derived forms of shocking