1
as in startling
causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness
we all clustered around to hear the shocking news of our colleague's sudden death
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in terrifying
causing fear
the shocking appearance of a shark just a few yards off shore
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sickening
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
the shocking behavior of some rowdies at the dance
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in gruesome
extremely disturbing or repellent
a soldier who had witnessed the shocking sight of his best friend being killed
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in appalling
to cause an unpleasant surprise for
Mom was shocked by the terrible news that her cousin had died in an accident I was shocked to find out that I was the victim of identity theft
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in surprising
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
were shocked by the way the law against public intoxication was constantly being broken
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in frightening
to strike with fear
the sudden appearance of the ghost shocked us to the core
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shocking
Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2025
That isn’t to say last season’s shocking success, culminating in a 12-win regular season and run to the NFC Championship Game, has Peters rewriting his roster-building ideals.
—Ben Standig, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
Daniel D'addario, Variety, 21 Oct. 2024
But rather than play up the murders’ shocking gore or give momentum to Lois’ investigation, the first few episodes are content to linger in the investigator’s ennui.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 4 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for shocking
Adjective
Thomas Kinkade is best known for his kitschy paintings of picturesque towns, but the late artist’s personal life contains a few shocking twists.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2025
That isn’t to say last season’s shocking success, culminating in a 12-win regular season and run to the NFC Championship Game, has Peters rewriting his roster-building ideals.
—Ben Standig, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
In the show’s two signature numbers, both of them Norma’s declarations of her own worthiness, Scherzinger stands at center stage and belts with shocking vocal power and agility, surrounded by purgatorial swirls of smoke and blown out by that Lloydian white light.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 21 Oct. 2024
But rather than play up the murders’ shocking gore or give momentum to Lois’ investigation, the first few episodes are content to linger in the investigator’s ennui.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 4 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for shocking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shocking
Adjective
-
Joel Embiid continues to be out, Paul George has been a startling disappointment, and a remarkable 17 different players have been in the starting lineup through 57 games.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
-
The startling manner of the White House announcement distracts from this long history.—
Arthur I. Cyr,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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His first book, Dark Days vividly and unflinchingly chronicled his terrifying experience being jailed on charges of manslaughter (he was acquitted on all counts).—
Bill Kopp,
SPIN,
20 Feb. 2025
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For those who have watched DOGE storm into their workplace, what is perhaps most terrifying is its attempts to scale.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Rosemary Farm in Santa Maria, California, has struggled to get by as bird flu ravages poultry populations across the U.S., sickening and killing birds and causing egg prices to spike.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2025
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Plastic straws were also noted sticking out of sea turtle nostrils, and sickening or killing seabirds, fish, manatees, dolphins and other marine mammals.—
Susanne Rust,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The gruesome murder occurred after an argument about fraudulent credit card charges, prosecutors said.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
20 Feb. 2025
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Over everything hovers the gruesome mystery of birth, that unnerving manifestation of female destiny by which a small person is formed within a larger one and bursts out like the alien in Alien.—
Stephanie Bunbury,
Deadline,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Tucker, Betts, Bryce Harper and Trea Turner are your steady vets, and there is surprising consensus around Julio Rodriguez, Jackson Chourio and Wyatt Langford.—
Owen Poindexter,
The Athletic,
18 Feb. 2025
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This luxury resort, set in the tranquil countryside, is your gateway to surprising epicurean adventures as well.—
Wendy Altschuler,
Forbes,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Bates is frightening in her stillness, which makes Annie’s sudden bursts of violence all the more horrifying.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
21 Feb. 2025
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The key, psychologists say, is the emotional weight of those headlines’ content—especially for people who find what’s happening in the U.S. today to be genuinely frightening.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The desire to avoid portraying her character’s actions as simply disgusting led de Van to play the lead role herself, in spite of the challenges that created for her as a first-time feature director.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
27 Feb. 2025
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Selena Gomez has called out 'disgusting' weight shame As a former child star who grew up in the public eye, Gomez has long been subjected to conversations surrounding her weight.—
Jay Stahl,
USA TODAY,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Once the fighting stops the horrific Russian losses of men and machines become daily additions to the armed forces.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
20 Feb. 2025
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On the left, contemporary progressives have denounced the original progressive for his horrific opinions of black Americans.—
Christian Schneider,
National Review,
20 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shocking. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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