appalling

adjective

ap·​pall·​ing ə-ˈpȯ-liŋ 

: inspiring horror, dismay, or disgust

living under appalling conditions

appalling savagery

appallingly adverb

Synonyms of appalling

• disgusting
• awful
• horrible
• sickening
• ugly
• shocking
• hideous
• obnoxious
• obscene
• dreadful
• offensive

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

Already the Iran war, now in its fourth week, has seen thousands of people killed and injured, global energy prices skyrocketing, and vast swathes of the turbulent Middle East in the grip of appalling violence. —Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026

Personally, that last one seems appalling; being in the same room as a bunch of other people writing, or even on a zoom call with them, would be like having a group visit to the dentist. —Literary Hub, 20 Mar. 2026

Back then, at the apex of his career, Harvey mostly got a pass for appalling behavior. —Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026

The amount of money that America chooses to spend on destruction, here or targeted at other countries, is appalling. —Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of appall

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for appalling

• enthralling
• forestalling
• installing
• recalling
• balling
• bawling
• brawling
• calling
• colling
• crawling
• drawling
• falling

Kids Definition

appalling

adjective

ap·​pall·​ing

ə-ˈpȯl-iŋ

: inspiring horror or dismay : shocking

appallingly adverb