: extremely startling, distressing, or offensive
shocking news
Examples of shocking in a Sentence
The number of young teenagers who smoke is shocking.
a shocking waste of money
The building is in a shocking state.
Recent Examples on the Web
Now a shocking new report has revealed the true extent to which the communication threat extends, with a staggering 30 malicious emails a day arriving on average.
—
Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Then, in 1903, news broke of a shocking massacre in the town of Kishinev, in the southwestern reaches of the Russian Empire.
—Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
There is something shocking, almost rude, about comparing the aims of wardens and guards to those of curators and artists, but McKenzie has her reasons.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 28 Apr. 2025
Porsha Williams’ birthday trip ended with a shocking accusation on the April 27 episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
—Liza Esquibias, People.com, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shocking
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Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Then, in 1903, news broke of a shocking massacre in the town of Kishinev, in the southwestern reaches of the Russian Empire.
—Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
There is something shocking, almost rude, about comparing the aims of wardens and guards to those of curators and artists, but McKenzie has her reasons.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 28 Apr. 2025
Porsha Williams’ birthday trip ended with a shocking accusation on the April 27 episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
—Liza Esquibias, People.com, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shocking
Cite this Entry
“Shocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shocking. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shocking
adjective
shock·ing
: causing horror or disgust
a shocking crime
shocking behavior
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