: extremely startling, distressing, or offensive
shocking news
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
Indeed, Salome’s lascivious dance of the seven veils was once more shocking for audiences than her execution.
—
Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Elsinore scored a second shocking playoff victory, this time taking down Santa Margarita 6-4.
—Martin Henderson, Oc Register, 20 May 2026
The news was shocking to fisherman Fred Menis.
—Samantha Chaney, CBS News, 20 May 2026
Perhaps the shocking recent news of Alex Murdaugh’s convictions being overturned will spark voter interest in the Hulu true-crime miniseries.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for shocking
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Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Elsinore scored a second shocking playoff victory, this time taking down Santa Margarita 6-4.
—Martin Henderson, Oc Register, 20 May 2026
The news was shocking to fisherman Fred Menis.
—Samantha Chaney, CBS News, 20 May 2026
Perhaps the shocking recent news of Alex Murdaugh’s convictions being overturned will spark voter interest in the Hulu true-crime miniseries.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for shocking
Cite this Entry
“Shocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shocking. Accessed 27 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shocking
adjective
shock·ing
: causing horror or disgust
a shocking crime
shocking behavior
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