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appalled 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of appallednext
as in aghast

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appalled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of appall
as in shocked
to cause an unpleasant surprise for conditions inside the house overrun with cats simply appalled animal control officers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 appalled
Adjective
And part of me is a little appalled by that. — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026 Coogan said, sounding less appalled than giddy at the figure. — Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
Her supporters and longtime Christian collaborators are appalled by the backlash. — Peter Smith, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Plenty of adults were appalled, but punk had a powerful influence on fashion, filmmaking and graphic design as well as rock music – well beyond punk itself. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for appalled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appalled
  1. aghast
  2. shocked
  3. horrified
  4. stunned
  5. surprised
  6. dismayed
  7. bewildered
Adjective
  • At first Burgomeister is aghast at such a horrific proposal and rebuffs her offer.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Albert Einstein was aghast at how nuclear fission had been put to first use.
    — Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of aghast
Verb
  • South Africa has struggled with violent crime for years, but the shootings on Saturday night have shocked a country used to some of the highest homicide rates in the world.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • South Africa has struggled with violent crime for years, but recent shootings have shocked a country used to some of the highest homicide rates in the world.
    — Gerald Imray, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of shocked
Adjective
  • Greg O'Neill, 63, was swimming at Sorrento Beach in the northern suburbs of Perth in Western Australia on Friday when the attack happened in front of horrified beachgoers.
    — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Their Bell helicopters collided midair, sending flaming wreckage above the heads of horrified drivers on the Pasadena Freeway.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of horrified
Verb
  • When Arisa proclaims herself a Faithful, Michael looks hilariously stunned, and Alan tells them to weep for the fall of innocence and the failure of justice.
    — Alice Burton, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
  • When the boss returns to the office vowing to send them all to jail, he is stunned to see the women have introduced job-sharing, flexible hours, and on-site child care.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of stunned
Adjective
  • In an interview Wednesday with The Sacramento Bee, the bill’s author, Assemblymember Alex Lee, D-San Jose, said he was disappointed by the veto but wasn’t surprised.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The Panthers this time, though, won’t be surprised if they’re rewarded for it.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of surprised
Adjective
  • But minutes later, Austria tied the game again, leaving the lobby in dismayed silence.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 June 2026
  • His reflexive suspicion of causes left him more dismayed than energized by the nascent conflict.
    — John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026
Definition of dismayed
Adjective
  • Five o’clock Saturday, the Riverside Stadium and Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg is fist-pumping a half-bewildered but fully enthused home crowd.
    — Michael Walker, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • When kids first got online, parents were bewildered and alarmed, but kids, who tend to gravitate to new technology, found freedom in a space that was basically ungoverned.
    — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of bewildered

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Cite this Entry

“Appalled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appalled. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

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