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. shocking pink
   a vivid or garish shade of pink
3. informal.
   very bad or terrible

   shocking weather

Derived Forms

• ˈshockingly, adverb
• ˈshockingness, noun

Other Words From

• shocking·ly adverb
• shocking·ness noun
• un·shocking adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shocking¹

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

Example Sentences

And I have to say: Finally getting to see U2 live was genuinely shocking.

From Los Angeles Times

They were endorsed again the week after the massacre, as if they were not shocking but the logical evolution of four decades of messaging that, until that terrible August day, had failed to land.

From Salon

Despite these shocking revelations, mainly involving boys from elite British public schools, the Rushton report was not widely circulated.

From BBC

It is a shocking choice, surely by design, that reflects an obvious desire to corrupt the agency from the top down.

From Slate

"The act is a shocking display of violence and it seriously calls into question MSF's ability to continue delivering essential care to the Haitian people," said Christophe Garnier, the group's head of mission in the country.

From BBC

Related Words

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