appalling

adjective

ap·​pall·​ing ə-ˈpȯ-liŋ 

: inspiring horror, dismay, or disgust

living under appalling conditions

appalling savagery

appallingly adverb

Synonyms

• abhorrent
• abominable
• awful
• disgusting
• distasteful
• dreadful
• evil
• foul
• fulsome
• gross
• hideous
• horrendous
• horrible
• horrid
• loathsome
• nasty
• nauseating
• nauseous
• noisome
• noxious
• obnoxious
• obscene
• odious
• offensive
• rancid
• repellent
• repellant
• repugnant
• repulsive
• revolting
• scandalous
• shocking
• sickening
• ugly

Examples of appalling in a Sentence

We drove by an appalling accident on the highway.

opening your mouth to show me your half-chewed food is absolutely appalling

Recent Examples on the Web

After that, Cruz immersed himself chin-deep in Donald Trump’s effort to overturn the 2020 election, then made an appalling escape to Cancun, Mexico, as millions of Texans shivered through a deadly winter storm. —Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024

Besides China another, albeit smaller — though still impactful — negative phenomenon was the recent summer season, which was appalling due to poor weather. —Jennifer Weil, WWD, 22 Oct. 2024

Murphy shapes his horrible narrative through vile and appalling character portrayals of Lyle and of me and disheartening slander. —Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 20 Oct. 2024

One or two people in Netanyahu’s cabinet have said the most appalling things. —Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of appall

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

appalling

adjective

ap·​pall·​ing

ə-ˈpȯl-iŋ

: inspiring horror or dismay : shocking

appallingly adverb