appalling

adjective

ap·​pall·​ing ə-ˈpȯ-liŋ 

: inspiring horror, dismay, or disgust

living under appalling conditions

appalling savagery

appallingly adverb

Synonyms of appalling

• disgusting
• awful
• horrible
• sickening
• ugly
• shocking
• hideous
• obnoxious
• obscene
• dreadful
• offensive

Examples of appalling in a Sentence

We drove by an appalling accident on the highway.

opening your mouth to show me your half-chewed food is absolutely appalling

Recent Examples on the Web

But other measures are appalling. —Angélica Durán-Martínez, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2026

The disclosures … are utterly shocking and appalling. —Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 23 Feb. 2026

By merely observing the appalling conditions at Bridgewater, Wiseman made Titicut Follies, a film so threatening to the Massachusetts state government’s reputation that the Massachusetts Superior Court ordered it to be pulled from distribution, citing patient-privacy concerns. —Vikram Murthi, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026

Newcastle's record there is appalling, and Howe's side have regularly been dismantled by Manchester City. —Chris Waugh, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of appall

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for appalling

• enthralling
• forestalling
• installing
• recalling
• balling
• bawling
• brawling
• calling
• colling
• crawling
• drawling
• falling

Kids Definition

appalling

adjective

ap·​pall·​ing

ə-ˈpȯl-iŋ

: inspiring horror or dismay : shocking

appallingly adverb