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

Fox News Digital columnist Hugh Hewitt writes that all Americans should be shocked and appalled at the return of antisemitism. —Staff, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025

Roberts’s initial statement, delivered in a video posted to social media, appalled a large part of the political right, which has sought to distance itself from Fuentes. —Jared Gans, The Hill, 3 Nov. 2025

There would have been people who were appalled by what was going on. —James Frater, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025

But, increasingly, events that should appall and unite America against violence instead fuel an intensifying partisanship. —John Archibald, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2025

That this face was his appalled him more. —Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025

How shocked and appalled and offended everyone seems to be by this. —Nick Suss, Nashville Tennessean, 13 Oct. 2025

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

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