1
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
opening your mouth to show me your half-chewed food is absolutely appalling
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in horrific
extremely disturbing or repellent
appalling crimes against humanity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in shocking
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
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Recent Examples of appalling
Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2026
That seems to be the tonally incoherent concept behind Rupert Goold’s new screen-to-stage production, an appalling near-disaster that opened at the August Wilson Theatre March 30.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
Truly appalling friend counsel here from Mindy.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for appalling
Adjective
The appalling conditions inside the detention center have been well-documented by the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, including insufficient medical and prenatal care, extreme temperatures, nutritional neglect, and deteriorating mental health.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2026
That seems to be the tonally incoherent concept behind Rupert Goold’s new screen-to-stage production, an appalling near-disaster that opened at the August Wilson Theatre March 30.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
Of all the recent poster boys for appalling misbehavior by the State Police, Michael Proctor would of course rank number one.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
Truly appalling friend counsel here from Mindy.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for appalling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appalling
Adjective
-
The water is disgusting-looking.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
-
These words then take on guilt by association because of the things we have been socialized to find unpleasant, uncomfortable, or disgusting.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The charges revealed key details and were among the first concrete public moves made in a grisly and horrific case that had been under a largely secret investigation in the seven months since the body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found.—
Andrew Dalton,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
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On Thursday, another horrific crime rattled the city —15-year-old Jaden Pierre was beaten and fatally shot at point-blank range in a Queens playground.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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However unlikely, here are four keys to the Kings shocking the world to advance for the first time since 2014.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Leo had particularly choice words after Trump threatened last week to destroy Iran in terms shocking even to many of his own supporters.—
Chicago Tribune,
Twin Cities,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But in the same vein as the Jets, that guy doesn't exist at the top of the board and the Cardinals also desperately need to improve on their awful pass rush (tied for third-fewest sacks in the NFL).—
Dan Zaksheske,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
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Bullying is this awful ostracization of people who don’t deserve it.—
Mac Engel
April 20,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Biden administration failed victims by not seeking the death penalty in many violent and gruesome cases.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
24 Apr. 2026
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Like Richards, many people also invite the public into the somewhat gruesome medical process.—
Rheana Murray,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the years since Boogie Nights, Leo has made an unlikely hit out of The Man in the Iron Mask, then took the role of Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, showing off his range and turning that surreal and often horrifying movie into another $100 million feather in his cap.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
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The visage, created by Universal Studio’s then-lead makeup artist Jack Pierce for the 1931 film, was horrifying enough that its influence endured for almost 100 years.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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On that horrible day, Dad was outside his vehicle supervising a ditch cleaning operation when a driver ignored traffic control devices, drove through a closed lane, and struck him, pinning him between two vehicles.—
Allysson Bornt,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
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And every family has that annoying uncle that makes horrible jokes or one situation after another.—
Lexi Lane,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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If anything, great public pressure being brought to bear is a terrible reason to dispense with due-process protections designed to protect the legal rights of individuals, and crafting one exception would seem to create a precedent for crafting others.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
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Some members of Congress, along with airline CEOs and analysts, say the bailout would be a terrible idea.—
Donald Judd,
CNN Money,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Appalling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appalling. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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