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
Recent Examples on the Web
Pavement was real end-of-the-century stuff, punk’s ethos of sledgehammering critique stripped of its former heroism and shock value.
—
Armin Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025
The entire thing is at once undercooked and trying too hard: at quippy humor, at crass edginess, at shock value.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
These antics only cemented his power as an intimidating, macho figure and added to the shock value of the show.
—Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 12 May 2025
Taken as just more shock value from Trump, the notion began being taken a lot more seriously in the last month as the MAGA administration hit Canada with a series of potentially crippling tariffs and restrictions.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shock value
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Armin Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025
The entire thing is at once undercooked and trying too hard: at quippy humor, at crass edginess, at shock value.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
These antics only cemented his power as an intimidating, macho figure and added to the shock value of the show.
—Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 12 May 2025
Taken as just more shock value from Trump, the notion began being taken a lot more seriously in the last month as the MAGA administration hit Canada with a series of potentially crippling tariffs and restrictions.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shock value
Cite this Entry
“Shock value.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shock%20value. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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