: 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
Following a shocking upset and a day of panic, there was ultimately no need to calculate any run quotient.
—
Zack Meisel, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
In a shocking reversal in strategy, Universal Pictures is lengthening the time that its movies will play exclusively in theaters.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 12 Mar. 2026
Disturbing visions and a shocking disappearance forces him to confront dark corners of his past.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
The truth is just as shocking as fiction.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shocking
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Zack Meisel, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
In a shocking reversal in strategy, Universal Pictures is lengthening the time that its movies will play exclusively in theaters.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 12 Mar. 2026
Disturbing visions and a shocking disappearance forces him to confront dark corners of his past.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
The truth is just as shocking as fiction.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 11 Mar. 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 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shocking
adjective
shock·ing
: causing horror or disgust
a shocking crime
shocking behavior
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