shocked

adjective

ˈshäkt 

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

Synonyms

• stunned
• amazed
• surprised
• astonished
• horrified
• dumfounded
• appalled

Examples of shocked in a Sentence

the escaping bridegroom bid farewell to the shocked wedding guests as he ran out the door

we were shocked at the appalling conditions in the prison

the hikers were so shocked at the sight of a bear that they didn't dare move

Recent Examples on the Web

Adam Sandler, who also starred in and produced the film, is seen first looking shocked at the scene unfolding before him, before laughing along with the rest of the crew. —Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 31 July 2025

This week, Barkley had a chance to discuss one of his young teammates, Cooper DeJean, who was shocked to crack the NFL's Top 100 list after just one year in the league. —Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 July 2025

Responding officers had trouble getting through the front door and had to use a fire escape behind the building to access the bloody home, shocked neighbors told the Daily News. —Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 25 July 2025

Columbus Township residents are shocked and disappointed after 18 criminal charges were filed against a local official accused of spending more than $1 million in taxpayer money on personal expenses, including travel, college tuition, alcohol and cannabis. —Matthew Cupelli, IndyStar, 23 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing shocked

• shell-shocked
• shocked and dismayed

Rhymes for shocked

• concoct
• deadlocked
• landlocked
• padlocked
• unblocked
• unlocked
• balked
• blocked
• chalked
• clocked
• cocked
• docked