appall

variants also appal

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb appall contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of appall are daunt, dismay, and horrify. While all these words mean "to unnerve or deter by arousing fear, apprehension, or aversion," appall implies that one is faced with that which perturbs, confounds, or shocks.

I am appalled by your behavior

When can daunt be used instead of appall?

The meanings of daunt and appall largely overlap; however, daunt suggests a cowing, disheartening, or frightening in a venture requiring courage.

a cliff that would daunt the most intrepid climber

When is it sensible to use dismay instead of appall?

The words dismay and appall can be used in similar contexts, but dismay implies that one is disconcerted and at a loss as to how to deal with something.

dismayed at the size of the job

In what contexts can horrify take the place of appall?

In some situations, the words horrify and appall are roughly equivalent. However, horrify stresses a reaction of horror or revulsion.

was horrified by such wanton cruelty

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of appall After going public together on social media, the pair have elicited strong reactions from people in their comments — some appalled by their age gap and others who quickly jump to their defense. Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025 Hollywood leaders were astonished; free speech groups were appalled; and the episode triggered a multi-day news cycle about free speech and corporate capitulation to political pressure. Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025 Many of the people who commented on the amendment said they were appalled by O’Hare’s cuts to the Democrats’ budgets. Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2025 Leaders in northern Germany are appalled after a shop owner posted an antisemitic sign banning Jewish people in a store window. Carlo Angerer, NBC news, 19 Sep. 2025 Yet her book, first published as Sursis pour l’Orchestre, translated as The Musicians of Auschwitz, was a novelized and sensational account which appalled almost all the other members of the ragtag band. Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025 Governance scolds are appalled by the number, as is the pope. Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2025 Kennedy holds views that clash sharply with the president’s legal reform agenda and should appall anyone who supports the president’s goal of reforming America’s legal system. Tiger Joyce, Boston Herald, 10 Sep. 2025 Leo’s appalled; Geno looks forward to eating. Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appall
Verb
  • Sharabi, who is terrified of being held in a tunnel, is being moved to one.
    Eli Sharabi, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Aldo had spent his time in the States terrified that he would be deported back to Cuba and jailed.
    Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Julie Hall floored 20 kills, pairing with Madison Blanchet’s 31 assists to guide Central Catholic (10-2) to a 3-0 victory over Lowell.
    Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Tatiana slammed the horn and floored the gas pedal, roaring into her backyard.
    Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • If the intent was to frighten the population, the move succeeded.
    Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Within my book, one of the things that frightens me most is the fact that with censorship, there’s often not a clear red line, right?
    Fiction Non Fiction October 2, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Nice to know there’s stuff that scares him.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
  • There’s something about kidnapping that scares the fear out of you, Goldberg-Polin says.
    Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The legacy trade preference program lapsed Tuesday without a renewal from Congress, shocking some and disappointing many, including lawmakers, importers and the Sub-Saharan African (SSA) exporters and heads of state who have been lobbying with mounting fervor for an extension.
    Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 30 Sep. 2025
  • The rural Wisconsinite, who died in a psychiatric institution in 1984, became known for keeping as totems pieces of his victims’ bodies, in a string of crimes that shocked bucolic 1950s America.
    Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Christine assures him that she could never be disgusted with him.
    Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Calling the mass killing of civilians in Gaza a genocide is contentious as well, but even patriotic Israelis disgusted by their own government have begun to use the term.
    Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • No special effects were required to trigger Curry's stark drift from amiability to horrifying emptiness.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
  • After his grisly crimes were uncovered, Gein spent his final years in psychiatric confinement far from the farmhouse that once horrified the nation.
    Aya Al-Hakim, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Reporters in the Brady Room earlier this week were greeted by the meme on a loop; the vice president, addressing them on the shutdown, laughed at Democrats who were offended by the trope.
    David Weigel, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • And faculty worry that teaching certain subject matter and texts might offend students and, if students complain, lead to administrative sanctions.
    Louis Menand, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Appall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appall. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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