Definition of appall
appalled
;appalling
transitive verb
: to overcome with consternation, shock, or dismay We were appalled by his behavior.
intransitive verb
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Examples of appall in a Sentence
The thought of war appalls me.
It appalls me to think of the way those children have been treated.
Recent Examples of appall from the Web
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The terrorists’ ability to appall us diminishes as their assaults become sadly routine.
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Meanwhile, the strategy appalls many experts who say that using economic leverage to prod China on security matters will send a broader signal to allies that U.S. foreign policy may be for sale.
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Some of that spending could shift to Facebook, Mahaney said, although the social network is facing its own challenges trying to block live videos of violence that appall viewers and advertisers alike.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'appall.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of appall
Middle English, from Middle French apalir, from Old French, from a- (from Latin ad-) + palir to grow pale, from Latin pallescere, inchoative of pallēre to be pale — more at fallow
Synonym Discussion of appall
APPALL Defined for English Language Learners
appall
playDefinition of appall for English Language Learners
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: to cause (someone) to feel fear, shock, or disgust
APPALL Defined for Kids
appall
playDefinition of appall for Students
appalled
;appalling
: to cause to feel shock, horror, or disgust She was appalled by their foul language.
Learn More about appall
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See words that rhyme with appall Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for appall Spanish Central: Translation of appall Nglish: Translation of appall for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of appall for Arabic speakers
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