appalled

adjective

ap·​palled ə-ˈpȯld 

: affected by strong feelings of shock and dismay

… the Allied commanders were appalled to learn that 300 glider troops had drowned at sea.

—Kathleen McAuliffe

I was amazed, impressed, appalled, touched, embarrassed. Most of all, I was mad as hell.

—Ken Kesey

Straightway, he now goes on to make a full confession; whereupon the mariners became more and more appalled …

—Herman Melville

Examples of appalled in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And part of me is a little appalled by that. —Ben Smith, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026

The case generated a national debate over the American health care system that’s garnered appalled reactions to Thompson’s brutal killing but also vocal support for Mangione as he’s become a figure for larger frustrations with the industry. —Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026

Coogan said, sounding less appalled than giddy at the figure. —Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 8 Jan. 2026

How shocked and appalled and offended everyone seems to be by this. —Nick Suss, Nashville Tennessean, 13 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of appall

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for appalled

• overhauled
• reinstalled
• auld
• bald
• balled
• bawled
• called
• crawled
• drawled
• galled
• hauled
• lolled