: 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
The Montgomerys were a seemingly normal suburban family prior to the shocking killing.
—
Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025
Many questions remain about the shootout and the shocking discovery of a long dead person inside the home.
—Tony Aiello, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
File this one under just another shocking factor playing into the Clippers’ disappointing season.
—Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
These lingering Cyber Monday deals belong to some of Travel + Leisure’s favorite retailers—like Amazon, Nordstrom, Madewell, and Vuori, to name a few—with discounts up to a shocking 80 percent off.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shocking
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Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025
Many questions remain about the shootout and the shocking discovery of a long dead person inside the home.
—Tony Aiello, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
File this one under just another shocking factor playing into the Clippers’ disappointing season.
—Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
These lingering Cyber Monday deals belong to some of Travel + Leisure’s favorite retailers—like Amazon, Nordstrom, Madewell, and Vuori, to name a few—with discounts up to a shocking 80 percent off.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 3 Dec. 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 10 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shocking
adjective
shock·ing
: causing horror or disgust
a shocking crime
shocking behavior
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