1
as in startling
causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness
we all clustered around to hear the shocking news of our colleague's sudden death
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in terrifying
causing fear
the shocking appearance of a shark just a few yards off shore
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sickening
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
the shocking behavior of some rowdies at the dance
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in gruesome
extremely disturbing or repellent
a soldier who had witnessed the shocking sight of his best friend being killed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in appalling
to cause an unpleasant surprise for
Mom was shocked by the terrible news that her cousin had died in an accident I was shocked to find out that I was the victim of identity theft
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in surprising
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
were shocked by the way the law against public intoxication was constantly being broken
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in frightening
to strike with fear
the sudden appearance of the ghost shocked us to the core
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shocking
Srinivas Shekar, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
What is quietly shocking is Riefenstahl's image of herself.
—Daniel Jonah Wolpert, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 26 Aug. 2025
Season 15 winner Rachel Frederickson lost nearly 60% of her body weight, shocking viewers and health experts at the time.
—EW.com, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shocking
Adjective
Unencrypted Data The same Palo Alto report revealed that a shocking 98% of Internet of Things (IoT) device traffic was unencrypted.
—Srinivas Shekar, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
What is quietly shocking is Riefenstahl's image of herself.
—Daniel Jonah Wolpert, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
This is shocking rhetoric even in 2025, when the far right has embraced race science and the federal government could be mistaken for pursuing the aims of the Proud Boys.
—Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 26 Aug. 2025
Season 15 winner Rachel Frederickson lost nearly 60% of her body weight, shocking viewers and health experts at the time.
—EW.com, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shocking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shocking
Adjective
-
Now a 23-year-old rookie in the WNBA, the financial transition was startling; five years ago, Bueckers didn’t even have a bank account.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill faced startling accusations from his estranged wife Keeta Vaccaro amid their divorce proceedings in Florida court.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The case is interrupted as Lorraine is heavily pregnant with Judy and is induced into giving birth after a terrifying vision.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The series centers around a deep-space research vessel crash-lands on Earth, bringing with it mysterious and terrifying life forms, such as the Xenomorph.—
Carson Blackwelder,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
One newspaper here calling the summit, sickening, shameful, and, in the end, useless.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Aug. 2025
-
The practice is one of a sickening array of battlefield mistreatments recorded on video either by Ukrainian surveillance drones or Russian servicemen and then circulated on social media.—
Andrew Carey,
CNN Money,
28 July 2025
Adjective
-
Gonzalez-Rasalas was charged with murder, desecrating a body and auto theft in a gruesome 2023 Easter Sunday homicide.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Sep. 2025
-
At the time, and in the next nearly two years, the Kansas City region also experienced the gruesome abuse and neglect deaths of three children ages 4 to 6, including one boy who fell from a 17th floor apartment window in November 2023.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Detroit rapper Kash Doll pulled out all the stops for her boyfriend, NFL star Za’Darius Smith’s 33rd birthday, surprising him with a custom ride that has fans talking.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
After surprising the baseball world and reaching the playoffs last season, Kansas City has played well below that level in 2025.—
Andrew Wright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Instances of swatting have been plaguing the nation for years, with fake shooting threats frightening the public and forcing schools, hospitals, grocery stores, office buildings, and airports into temporary lockdowns.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
This fall brings a mix of amazing films.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
10 Sep. 2025
-
That alone is amazing, said Timbrook, Depue and a representative for the soft body armor vest that stopped a bullet from piercing the officer’s chest.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
There were plenty of distraction at the in-stadium clinic to make a trip to the dentist a little less scary for the children.—
Tammy Ljungblad,
Kansas City Star,
10 Sep. 2025
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And yet … those conversations are also entertainingly provocative, and they’re accompanied by some of the scariest and most disgusting scenes the series has delivered up to now.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shocking. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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