: 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
Emotional testimony details shocking stabbing The trial, which began with jury selection on June 1, included emotional testimony from eye witnesses and graphic video footage of the chaotic event, CBS News reported.
—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 10 June 2026
This is a shocking turn of events for the former WAG whose influencer career took off after going viral at Wimbledon a few years ago.
—Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
The Committee for Public Counsel Services is asking Mass State Police to turn over information for all cases, open or closed, that former State Trooper Michael Proctor investigated, citing shocking texts revealed in a lawsuit filed by Karen Read.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026
However, privately, Fox was struggling with the shocking early diagnosis of Parkinson's at age 29.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shocking
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N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 10 June 2026
This is a shocking turn of events for the former WAG whose influencer career took off after going viral at Wimbledon a few years ago.
—Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
The Committee for Public Counsel Services is asking Mass State Police to turn over information for all cases, open or closed, that former State Trooper Michael Proctor investigated, citing shocking texts revealed in a lawsuit filed by Karen Read.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026
However, privately, Fox was struggling with the shocking early diagnosis of Parkinson's at age 29.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 9 June 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 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shocking
adjective
shock·ing
: causing horror or disgust
a shocking crime
shocking behavior
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