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shocking

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verb

present participle of shock
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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shocking
Adjective
When a shocking event takes place, many organizations try to send communications out quickly—and these messages tend to be rushed, emotionally driven and sometimes poorly worded or executed. Charlotte Sweeney Obe, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025 An argument escalates into shocking violence, and Simon loses his little girl all over again. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 21 Jan. 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
  • Some stats set to be fired off at Content Americas will make for startling viewing.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 20 Jan. 2025
  • The repeat president has just shy of 15 million followers on TikTok, but the appearance of his name on the app’s welcome screen was nevertheless startling to many.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Cumberbatch, in a few moments, expresses the depth of this father’s agony, the terrifying chasm of it.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 26 Jan. 2025
  • Six episodes centre on a variety of different dinosaurs, from terrifying carnivores to docile herbivores.
    John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Respiratory viruses are continuing to spread across the United States, sickening millions of Americans.
    Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 20 Jan. 2025
  • Escaping the sickening air pollution triggered by the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles has become a game of which algorithm to trust.
    Paresh Dave, WIRED, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Shanks brilliantly paces the story out with several pieces of foreshadowing, including a rat king as symbolism for toxic codependency, mirroring a gruesome story Tim tells Millie about his father’s death and his mother’s mental health.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2025
  • Unlike the gruesome, bloodthirsty creatures of classic films and literature, Cullen and his family abstain from drinking the blood of humans.
    Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Denver was one of the more surprising teams in the NFL this season, finishing 10-7 and making the playoffs for the first time since winning the Super Bowl in 2015.
    Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2025
  • Patrick Gaspard, the president of the Center for American Progress, a liberal research group, said the lack of Democratic mobilization was not surprising, given that few in the party were shocked by Mr. Trump’s 2024 victory.
    Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Listen to this article California’s blazing wildfires and last year’s destructive hurricanes in the Southeast are frightening examples of the dramatic impacts of climate change.
    Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2025
  • Coming full circle, the FBI also warned users to beware this frightening new threat in a special advisory last month.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • My TikTok really blew up somewhere between my videos taste-testing a really disgusting medication and my series about dating.
    Brooke Eby, People.com, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Billions Of Jellyfish Wash Up On Beach By Jess Thomson Science Reporter 1 A plague of bizarre and disgusting balls that have washed up along popular beaches in Australia have been found to contain fecal bacteria.
    Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Beloved Hollywood couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco have teamed up on the big screen a handful of times already but their new collaboration tests their coupledom in new and horrific ways.
    Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Jan. 2025
  • Fires shine spotlight on power lines Power lines are again drawing the spotlight as a potential cause of the horrific blazes.
    Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near shocking

Cite this Entry

“Shocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shocking. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

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