Synonyms of appall

appall

verb

ə-ˈpȯl 

variants also appal

as in to shock

to cause an unpleasant surprise for

conditions inside the house overrun with cats simply appalled animal control officers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shock
• horrify
• stun
• frighten
• startle
• scare
• astonish
• terrify
• outrage
• shake
• shake up
• jolt
• amaze
• disgust
• floor
• stupefy
• flabbergast
• dumbfound
• alarm
• overwhelm
• sicken
• nauseate
• panic
• astound
• fright
• affright
• dismay
• displease
• terrorize
• offend
• daunt
• spook
• scandalize
• scarify
• awe
• unnerve
• revolt
• unsettle
• disconcert
• dispirit
• repel
• upset
• disturb
• freak (out)
• distress
• discomfort
• knock for a loop
• perturb
• disquiet
• emasculate
• unman
• demoralize
• discompose
• undo
• bowl over
• overpower
• unstring
• turn off
• chill
• weird out
• crush

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• delight
• please
• rejoice
• gratify
• buffer
• tempt
• cushion
• assure
• charm
• entice
• tickle
• cheer
• comfort
• soothe
• reassure
• console
• solace

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

Recent Examples of appall

Even if the company still had footage of what had happened, she was appalled by the idea of anyone watching it. — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

The tennis world was appalled by Atmane’s behavior, with some fans taking to social media to call for him to be banned from the sport. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026

My family visited Paris in the summer of 2019, and although we were infatuated by the city’s beauty, we were appalled at how immigrants were allowed to fester on the streets and harass tourists like us. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026

Francis said she was appalled upon learning the result of the appeal two days into the current semester. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Smith died at the age of ninety-four in 2017, having seen many years of the internet gossip reporting that came after her and having been appalled by it. — Lindsey Weber, Vanity Fair, 28 Sep. 2026

The cast, who had been supportive of Paul’s controversy and mental-health struggles before the cancellation, were appalled at a video leaked in March of Paul throwing a stool at her ex, Dakota Mortensen, that almost hit her young daughter. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026

Mansur, who desperately longs to be reunited with his own mother, is appalled. — Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026

Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s ongoing satirical series at first appalled many viewers with its resolute political incorrectness and penchant for four-letter words from the mouths of babes, and that was nowhere more evident than in Cartman himself. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2026