1
a
: affected by shock : stricken with sudden mental or emotional disturbance
"Oh, no!" Mrs. Quimby was shocked. "How much is that going to cost?"Beverly Cleary
… I am so shocked to see him that I do not know what to do.Jane Austen
b
: showing or expressing shock
Her voice faltered as she saw the shocked amazement on her father's face.Mary Norton
In place of a roar at the end of the year's most anticipated race, there was only a shocked silence.Tim Layden
2
of a mineral : having a crystal structure that has been deformed by exposure to sudden extremely high pressure (as from a meteorite impact or a nuclear blast)
Grains of shocked quartz have long been used as criteria for impact (extraterrestrial objects or nuclear bombs) …Stephen Jay Gould

Examples of shocked in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The new exclusive trailer below shows Morgan looking absolutely shocked during one reveal. Emily Longeretta, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024 The events that transpired have left me feeling guilty, shocked and unsure of how to move forward. Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 Then, before stepping inside a classroom of shocked kids who collectively gasped with shock and excitement upon her arrival, Dua confessed that one nearly 20-year-old memory still haunts her. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 8 Mar. 2024 For reasons that are far beyond anything the mortal brain can attempt to ascertain, MJ seems both shocked and heartbroken. Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2024 The footage from Deer Creek High School in Edmond, Oklahoma, shocked and disgusted social media users across the country this weekend. Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 2 Mar. 2024 The speaker continued after a moment’s hesitation, but then a shocked exclamation could be heard. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024 In one clip from the slideshow, Perry makes a shocked expression for the camera before singing along with the 1989 revenge anthem. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 23 Feb. 2024 For their part, the cast were all shocked at how things turned out. Josh Wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shocked.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of shocked was in 1675

Dictionary Entries Near shocked

Cite this Entry

“Shocked.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shocked. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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