as in terrified
filled with fear or dread
I stood there, aghast, as the vile monster made its way toward me
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of aghast
Democrats, initially aghast but quickly emboldened, responded by matching Republicans with an equally aggressive gerrymander in California, which voters approved overwhelmingly in November.
—
Russell Berman, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
But Bernthal’s Sonny isn’t aghast.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026
Many in Iowa were aghast at the 1854 Kansas Nebraska Act that effectively nullified the agreement.
—Bill Steiden, Des Moines Register, 24 Mar. 2026
The mother seemed aghast and at a loss as to what to do.
—Judith Martin, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aghast
Russell Berman, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
But Bernthal’s Sonny isn’t aghast.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026
Many in Iowa were aghast at the 1854 Kansas Nebraska Act that effectively nullified the agreement.
—Bill Steiden, Des Moines Register, 24 Mar. 2026
The mother seemed aghast and at a loss as to what to do.
—Judith Martin, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aghast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aghast
Adjective
-
The four lead the group of terrified and tiny boys, some who look as young or four- or five-years-old.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
-
Aliens, dystopian nightmares, and twisted realities are more than likely provoking a reaction from viewers that flies a lot closer to terrified.—
Grace Dean,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
The woman who found Nado said the feline appeared frightened but was in overall good health, according to the news outlet.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
-
Those children hadn’t seemed frightened to me, not visibly anyway.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
At the same time, a boy named Henry, who also had to evacuate, is afraid of dogs.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
-
Native to the Mediterranean, lavender is not afraid of the summer heat.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
To her horrified astonishment, Miss Manners has received a number of letters reporting that guests are taking gross advantage of hospitality by cadging future meals.—
Judith Martin,
Sun Sentinel,
12 May 2026
-
Let’s not confuse slightly horrified admiration for Irina’s determination with admiration for her as a person.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Most of their clients were too scared to speak publicly, citing fear of retaliation.—
Shoshana Walter,
Miami Herald,
11 May 2026
-
Originally scared of cats, Cox fell in love with a pair of Scottish Folds his wife bought.—
Mark Bradley for the AJC,
AJC.com,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
And yet so many fans and media are some cocktail of shocked and outraged over tickets to a World Cup being high, or the travel cost to get here being a lot, or local hotels and public transportation jacking their prices.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
11 May 2026
-
Bush Hager noted, as Bertinelli looked shocked.—
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Erin McClymont’s laboratory has six kitchen freezers, each alarmed.—
Hannah Richter,
Scientific American,
7 May 2026
-
Artificial intelligence, far-right ideologies, voracious capitalism — all of it makes Martel alarmed, seeing it as pushing us collectively to the brink of collapse.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aghast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aghast. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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