: 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
Originally, the film extended further into the future, addressing the shocking 1993 accusations of child molestation levied against Michael Jackson and the subsequent investigation.
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Andrew Flanagan, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026
Brilliantly produced by the team at Red Planet, The Only Suspect promises to deliver a gripping story full of shocking revelations and twists.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
That was part of why his work was so shocking.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2026
That relief can’t come soon enough, as the death toll has been shocking.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shocking
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Andrew Flanagan, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026
Brilliantly produced by the team at Red Planet, The Only Suspect promises to deliver a gripping story full of shocking revelations and twists.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
That was part of why his work was so shocking.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2026
That relief can’t come soon enough, as the death toll has been shocking.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 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 27 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shocking
adjective
shock·ing
: causing horror or disgust
a shocking crime
shocking behavior
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