appall

variants also appal

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb appall contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of appall are daunt, dismay, and horrify. While all these words mean "to unnerve or deter by arousing fear, apprehension, or aversion," appall implies that one is faced with that which perturbs, confounds, or shocks.

I am appalled by your behavior

When can daunt be used instead of appall?

The meanings of daunt and appall largely overlap; however, daunt suggests a cowing, disheartening, or frightening in a venture requiring courage.

a cliff that would daunt the most intrepid climber

When is it sensible to use dismay instead of appall?

The words dismay and appall can be used in similar contexts, but dismay implies that one is disconcerted and at a loss as to how to deal with something.

dismayed at the size of the job

In what contexts can horrify take the place of appall?

In some situations, the words horrify and appall are roughly equivalent. However, horrify stresses a reaction of horror or revulsion.

was horrified by such wanton cruelty

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 appall How shocked and appalled and offended everyone seems to be by this. Nick Suss, Nashville Tennessean, 13 Oct. 2025 After going public together on social media, the pair have elicited strong reactions from people in their comments — some appalled by their age gap and others who quickly jump to their defense. Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025 Hollywood leaders were astonished; free speech groups were appalled; and the episode triggered a multi-day news cycle about free speech and corporate capitulation to political pressure. Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025 Many of the people who commented on the amendment said they were appalled by O’Hare’s cuts to the Democrats’ budgets. Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2025 Leaders in northern Germany are appalled after a shop owner posted an antisemitic sign banning Jewish people in a store window. Carlo Angerer, NBC news, 19 Sep. 2025 Yet her book, first published as Sursis pour l’Orchestre, translated as The Musicians of Auschwitz, was a novelized and sensational account which appalled almost all the other members of the ragtag band. Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025 Governance scolds are appalled by the number, as is the pope. Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2025 Kennedy holds views that clash sharply with the president’s legal reform agenda and should appall anyone who supports the president’s goal of reforming America’s legal system. Tiger Joyce, Boston Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appall
Verb
  • Usually when a pet is terrified of kennel life, a shelter moves quickly to find a loving foster to provide comfort, which is what happened with this little one.
    TJ Macias, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Grasso is terrified of being found out as the mole in the task force.
    Grace Byron, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But each release specifies exactly which warehouse and even which floors the barrels for a particular batch were matured, which is similar to Hardin’s Creek.
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2025
  • If possible, replace wall-to-wall carpeting with hard flooring options like hardwood, tile, or linoleum.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • There are no effective repellents or devices that frighten away raccoons.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025
  • One, frightened, pressed her belly into the pavement.
    Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Carter Taylor of Kansas City, an elementary school educator and legislative chair for the Kansas City Federation of Teachers, said efforts to privatize education should scare parents.
    PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Playing on parental fears, The Babadook has been scaring the daylights out of us for a solid decade now.
    Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In their wake, many Americans are justifiably alarmed and shocked by the scale of government force.
    Josiah Bates, Time, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Instead of pulling himself up, Red Hood shocks the hero with a hand buzzer and falls into the chemicals.
    Jordan Moreau, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • People are disgusted with Israel’s response.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Christine assures him that she could never be disgusted with him.
    Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • To their credit, the Young Republicans organization issued a strong denouncement of the comments, although I was horrified by reading the online responses to it.
    Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 19 Oct. 2025
  • When a rigid, devoutly Christian cop (Edward Woodward) arrives in search of a missing girl, he's horrified by the island's embrace of pagan rituals.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • How shocked and appalled and offended everyone seems to be by this.
    Nick Suss, Nashville Tennessean, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Such restrictions on the sale of chips offended China, Luria said, and ultimately led to Beijing limiting the purchase of chips to their companies.
    Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Appall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appall. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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