shocking

adjective

shock·​ing ˈshä-kiŋ How to pronounce shocking (audio)
: extremely startling, distressing, or offensive
shocking news
shockingly adverb

Examples of shocking in a Sentence

The number of young teenagers who smoke is shocking. a shocking waste of money The building is in a shocking state.
Recent Examples on the Web Most true crime shows center on shocking events, of course. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2024 Below, Lacy, 39, speaks with PEOPLE to break down the shocking ending, the relationships between the members of the Delaney family, his behind-the-scenes chemistry with the cast and what’s next for his character, Troy. Lizzie Hyman, Peoplemag, 17 Mar. 2024 In the fall, when the Forest Service began to assess the state of its workforce for the 2024 fire season, the results were shocking, according to an official. ProPublica, 16 Mar. 2024 In her shocking tell-all memoir, Elvis and Me, Priscilla Presley candidly wrote about her tumultuous relationship with Elvis—from her total adoration of him to his objectification of and control over her. Amel Mukhtar, Vogue, 15 Mar. 2024 Speaking later to a juvenile probation officer, Cadenhead said that his server attracted as many as 400 members who routinely posted shocking images, including videos of torture and child pornography. Chris Dehghanpoor, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 In one shocking incident, the FAA saw Spirit mechanics applying liquid Dawn soap to a door seal as a lubricant. Alan Murray, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024 Recommended Compassion Biden’s food drops in Gaza underscore difficulties with Israel Something else happened that year: American wrestler Helen Maroulis scored a shocking victory at the Rio De Janeiro Olympics to win a gold medal – the first ever for an American in women’s wrestling. Marc Levy, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Mar. 2024 Its report, issued in March of 1968, would offer a shocking assessment of race relations so politically explosive that Johnson doomed its finding to political oblivion. Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 13 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shocking.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shocking was in 1653

Dictionary Entries Near shocking

Cite this Entry

“Shocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shocking. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

shocking

adjective
shock·​ing
: causing horror or disgust
a shocking crime
shocking behavior
shockingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on shocking

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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