: 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
Now, Mamdani, a democratic socialist who had a shocking win to lead the nation’s largest city, returned the favor, urging Big Apple voters to choose Hochul in November.
—
Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
That shocking crime is at the center of Murder in Glitterball City, a two-part documentary that premieres on HBO on February 19.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2026
The shocking disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84 year-old mother of ‘Today’ show host Savannah Guthrie, took a new twist on Tuesday as TMZ reported receiving a ransom letter.
—Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
This would prove the most shocking move of Riley’s time, considering what the Heat president can offer.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shocking
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Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
That shocking crime is at the center of Murder in Glitterball City, a two-part documentary that premieres on HBO on February 19.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2026
The shocking disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84 year-old mother of ‘Today’ show host Savannah Guthrie, took a new twist on Tuesday as TMZ reported receiving a ransom letter.
—Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
This would prove the most shocking move of Riley’s time, considering what the Heat president can offer.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 4 Feb. 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 6 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shocking
adjective
shock·ing
: causing horror or disgust
a shocking crime
shocking behavior
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