variants
also appal
as in to terrify
to cause an unpleasant surprise for
conditions inside the house overrun with cats simply appalled animal control officers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Cite this Entry
“Appall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appall. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share