Synonyms of appalling

appalling 1 of 2

adjective

ə-ˈpȯ-liŋ 

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

• disgusting
• awful
• horrible
• sickening
• ugly
• shocking
• hideous
• obnoxious
• obscene
• dreadful
• offensive
• nasty
• unpleasant
• abominable
• horrid
• evil
• abhorrent
• revolting
• terrible
• horrendous
• gross
• horrific
• loathsome
• repulsive
• odious
• repugnant
• gruesome
• scandalous
• distasteful
• nauseating
• noxious
• repellent
• disturbing
• undesirable
• nauseous
• foul
• rancid
• vile
• fulsome
• noisome
• horrifying
• monstrous
• hateful
• objectionable
• unwanted
• miserable
• disagreeable
• detestable
• despicable
• grim
• contemptible
• atrocious
• heinous
• unspeakable
• ghastly
• unhealthy
• execrable
• nightmarish
• grisly
• sick
• unwholesome
• frightful
• brackish
• exceptionable
• unwelcome
• unsavory
• macabre
• lurid
• lousy
• barbarous
• upsetting
• hard
• uncivilized
• dislikable
• ungodly
• sickly
• distressing
• unholy
• unchristian
• sickish
• off-putting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• acceptable
• innocuous
• desirable
• delightful
• pleasant
• attractive
• delicious
• inoffensive
• appealing
• agreeable
• nice
• sweet
• enjoyable
• gratifying
• alluring
• welcome
• satisfying
• congenial
• heavenly
• pleasurable
• pleasing
• dreamy
• delectable
• felicitous
• palatable
• darling
• blessed
• likable
• luscious
• inviting
• unobjectionable
• dulcet
• savory
• unexceptionable
• wholesome
• healthy
• salutary
• healthful
• salubrious
• restorative
• delightsome

2

as in horrific

extremely disturbing or repellent

appalling crimes against humanity

Synonyms & Similar Words

• horrific
• gruesome
• shocking
• horrible
• terrible
• nightmare
• frightening
• horrifying
• awful
• terrific
• dreadful
• terrifying
• hideous
• horrid
• sickening
• atrocious
• horrendous
• scary
• ghastly
• nightmarish
• grisly
• disgusting
• macabre
• monstrous
• frightful
• lurid
• alarming
• dire
• ugly
• deplorable
• fearful
• obscene
• revolting
• repulsive
• loathsome
• grotesque
• abhorrent
• formidable
• repugnant
• offensive
• abominable
• heinous
• unspeakable
• odious
• disagreeable
• direful
• obnoxious
• intimidating
• forbidding
• distasteful
• vile
• fearsome
• gut-wrenching
• evil
• nauseating
• redoubtable
• noxious
• bloodcurdling
• hair-raising
• heart-stopping
• noisome
• unsightly
• foul

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• attractive
• pleasant
• delightful
• delicious
• appealing
• welcome
• enjoyable
• agreeable
• satisfying
• pleasing
• pleasurable
• enticing
• delectable
• inviting
• comforting
• soothing
• cheering

appalling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of appall

as in shocking

to cause an unpleasant surprise for

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shocking
• horrifying
• stunning
• frightening
• startling
• astonishing
• terrifying
• scaring
• disgusting
• alarming
• shaking
• amazing
• jolting
• shaking up
• outraging
• sickening
• stupefying
• dumbfounding
• flabbergasting
• overwhelming
• dismaying
• revolting
• nauseating
• astounding
• flooring
• panicking
• frighting
• disturbing
• scarifying
• distressing
• terrorizing
• upsetting
• displeasing
• unsettling
• dispiriting
• disconcerting
• affrighting
• unnerving
• disquieting
• freaking (out)
• daunting
• spooking
• knocking for a loop
• offending
• scandalizing
• bowling over
• discomforting
• emasculating
• perturbing
• demoralizing
• repelling
• awing
• undoing
• chilling
• unmanning
• turning off
• overpowering
• discomposing
• unstringing
• crushing
• weirding out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gratifying
• charming
• pleasing
• rejoicing
• cushioning
• tempting
• delighting
• enticing
• comforting
• assuring
• buffering
• tickling
• cheering
• reassuring
• soothing
• consoling
• solacing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of appalling

Adjective

And then, following Labour’s appalling performance in local elections held in May, a leadership contest burst out into the open. — Anand Menon, Time, 13 June 2026

Backlash over Anthropic’s plan to degrade responses for prompts linked to high-risk responses has been swift with some calling it appalling and hostile to users. — Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026

Verb

The young Forster recoiled from the school’s culture of authoritarianism and militaristic chauvinism, which may have found expression in the students’ often appalling attitudes toward their own mothers. — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 7 May 2026

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