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
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.
The Paris heavyweight routed Atletico Madrid 4-0 in their Club World Cup opening game, suffered a shocking 1-0 upset by Brazilian club Botafogo in their second match, and then beat the Seattle Sounders 2-0 to clinch first place in the group. Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 27 June 2025 The 6-foot-7 forward will join Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis with the Mavericks, who are looking to turn around the franchise following the shocking midseason trade of Luka Dončić in February. Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 27 June 2025 But perhaps the most shocking part of Season 2, Episode 7, was the revelation that Player 001 was none other than the mysterious Front Man. Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025 How the Mavericks got the No. 1 draft pick However, injuries and inconsistent play early in the season set the stage for one of the most shocking trades in league history when the Mavs shipped Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis and a 2029 first-round draft pick. Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for shocking

Word History

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shocking was in 1653

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shocking. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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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