shocking

[shok-ing]

adjective

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

   Synonyms: appalling, startling, astounding, staggering

2. very bad.

   shocking manners.

shocking

/ ˈʃɒkɪŋ /

adjective

1. causing shock, horror, or disgust

2. a vivid or garish shade of pink

3. informal,  very bad or terrible

   shocking weather

Other Word Forms

• shockingly adverb
• shockingness noun
• unshocking adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shocking¹

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

Example Sentences

But our caregiving system’s failure is just as shocking as any engineering collapse.

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"We're in the rolling countryside, in sleepy south Durham, so to be the victim of potentially international crime like this is quite hard to believe and it is quite shocking really," he said.

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And I was delighted when it would appear in pop culture which, once you start paying attention, is with shocking regularity.

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From shock and awe to shocking and awful.

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“That’s pretty shocking, actually,” said Scott, who has studied health and safety protections for agricultural workers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• appalling 
• awful 
• disgraceful 
• disgusting 
• disquieting 
• distressing www.thesaurus.com
• dreadful 
• ghastly 
• heinous 
• horrible 
• horrific 
• horrifying 
• shameful 
• terrible 
• ugly