shocking

adjective

shock·ing | \ ˈshä-kiŋ

Definition of shocking

: extremely startling, distressing, or offensive shocking news

Other Words from shocking Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing shocking Learn More About shocking

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 delay isn’t exactly shocking considering Musk’s history as a troll. — Ryan Bort, Rolling Stone, 13 May 2022 Few things are as shocking as what occurred on Friday. — Xl Media, cleveland, 7 May 2022 One study shows that over 75% of businesses online were dissatisfied with their conversion rates, which may not be too shocking considering that most of us would love more conversions. — Bernard May, Forbes, 2 May 2022 If you've been pierced before, some of these won't be too shocking, but there are certain effects that are specific to tongue piercings. — Gabi Thorne, Allure, 25 Apr. 2022 Frazier was shot in the back of the head before being robbed in an incident that was shocking for its cold-blooded brutality. — Henri Hollis, ajc, 21 Apr. 2022 Everything has always been above board so this is totally, totally shocking. — Charmaine Patterson, PEOPLE.com, 18 Apr. 2022 Hearing that something that once took six weeks can now take six months is simply shocking. — Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 15 Apr. 2022 The results—most of the strangers acquiesced—were less shocking than the process: the students found the asking to be torturous. — Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shocking.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.