: 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
After a shocking loss to Sweden, Mexico's chances of advancing to the next round hinged on South Korea beating the defending champions, Germany.
—
Juliana Kim, NPR, 17 June 2026
When a shocking night shatters their fragile facade, both women are forced to confront the cost of control and decide what kind of future is worth fighting for.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026
Played by Kingston Rumi Southwick, Evan spends much of the season pushing against the suffocating boundaries set by his father Tom Loftis, portrayed by Matthew Rhys, only for a shocking revelation to fundamentally reshape their relationship by the finale.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 17 June 2026
The shocking reality was scarcely believable at the time and its impact is still felt by those who were closest to him.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shocking
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Juliana Kim, NPR, 17 June 2026
When a shocking night shatters their fragile facade, both women are forced to confront the cost of control and decide what kind of future is worth fighting for.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026
Played by Kingston Rumi Southwick, Evan spends much of the season pushing against the suffocating boundaries set by his father Tom Loftis, portrayed by Matthew Rhys, only for a shocking revelation to fundamentally reshape their relationship by the finale.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 17 June 2026
The shocking reality was scarcely believable at the time and its impact is still felt by those who were closest to him.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shocking
Cite this Entry
“Shocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shocking. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shocking
adjective
shock·ing
: causing horror or disgust
a shocking crime
shocking behavior
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