shock value

noun

: usefulness to surprise and usually upset people
He uses offensive language for (its) shock value.

Examples of shock value in a Sentence

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Horror tastes are shifting Scary movies used to be all about shock value. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 1 June 2026 Her book never dips into trauma for shock value alone. — The Atlantic, 14 May 2026 The scene isn’t excessively played for shock value or tragedy. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 26 June 2026 Yes, his cruelty lost its shock value over time, but his motivations always tracked. — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for shock value

Rhymes for shock value

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Browse Nearby Words

shock tube
shock value
shock wave
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Cite this Entry

“Shock value.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shock%20value. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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