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
The unconscionable treatment of maids in Alma’s era finds uncomfortable parallels in the 1980s, when Angelika is both appalled and intrigued by the leering looks of her uncle Uwe (Konstantin Lindhorst). — Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026 And part of me is a little appalled by that. — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
The neighbors, who had till then lived in a conventional suburban setting — two-story colonials, wide lawns — were appalled. — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 21 Oct. 2026 Rather than being appalled, Meisner was impressed, and McQueen became a serial student, studying with Uta Hagen and Lee Strasberg and building his resume in summer stock and television. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 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
  • Each of these scandals generated countless headlines from an aghast press and commentariat class.
    — David Mack, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • At first Burgomeister is aghast at such a horrific proposal and rebuffs her offer.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of aghast
Verb
  • The case shocked her community and the fight to convict her killer proved difficult.
    — Madeleine Janz, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Theiss’ wife filed a police complaint alleging that the men were shocked while trying to get out of the pool and drowned, NDTV reported.
    — Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of shocked
Adjective
  • Photos from the scene show several UTSA members surrounding the airman on the field after the fatal fall, as medics tended to him in front of horrified spectators.
    — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Gomez, 67, recalled, watching as responding officers pulled a horrified boy from the car.
    — Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of horrified
Verb
  • If the Scots get stunned by Smith and Richland can defeat Carrollton Turner, then Highland Park and Richland will be co-champions with Highland Park taking the first seed and Richland the second.
    — Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Nov. 2026
  • His rare death resulting from an impact in a game has stunned the world of soccer.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of stunned
Adjective
  • Some subscribers were pleasantly surprised to see a price reduction.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
  • You probably wouldn’t be surprised to hear that more than half of women surveyed admit to having faked an orgasm at some point, given how often those performances are referenced in TV shows and movies.
    — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 4 Nov. 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
  • For the first 12 minutes, the Bulls watched Brunson with the bewildered air of a student who forgot to study for a test.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The Heat awoke Tuesday as the NBA’s only 0-4 team and thoroughly bewildered about how a group that fashioned itself a contender could continue to perform so poorly.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 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 11 Nov. 2026.

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