shocking

[shok-ing]

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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for shockingly

terribly, disturbingly, horribly, shockingly, fearfully, dismally, cruelly, wrongly, indecently, badly, appallingly, tragically

Examples from the Web for shockingly

Contemporary Examples of shockingly

Shockingly, this last couplet made it into the 1953 film version; someone was napping over at MGM.
When Broadway Musicals Were Dark And Subversive
Laurence Maslon
December 16, 2014
But faced with a sleeper hit, HBO shockingly did not quite feel the same way.
Alright ‘True Detective,’ You Got Me: Taylor Kitsch Is a Woman’s Man
Teo Bugbee
November 1, 2014
A shockingly small number of states require sex education to be medically accurate, and free from promotion of religion.
What Henry VIII Teaches Us About Sex Ed
Nancy Kaffer
September 15, 2014
And shockingly, his lawyer said, Christie did nothing wrong.
Who Isn’t Investigating Chris Christie?
Olivia Nuzzi
June 25, 2014
It seems logical, but shockingly this is not the standard-of-care.
Clinton Doc: This Is How We’ll Fix Health Care
Daniela Drake
June 12, 2014

Historical Examples of shockingly

Bressant, who took the part of Charles Quint, was shockingly bad.
My Double Life
Sarah Bernhardt
I want to speak to Louise, although I am afraid I am shockingly de trop.
The Avenger
E. Phillips Oppenheim
The rooms they occupied were left in a shockingly filthy condition.
The Downfall
Emile Zola
So shockingly sudden, there was not even time for remonstrance at himself.
We're Friends, Now
Henry Hasse
But when he spoke again, his voice was shockingly bright and kind.
The Moon is Green
Fritz Reuter Leiber

British Dictionary definitions for shockingly

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

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 shockingly

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.