shocking

1 of 2

adjective

shock·​ing ˈshä-kiŋ How to pronounce shocking (audio)
Synonyms of shockingnext
: extremely startling, distressing, or offensive
shocking news
shockingly
ˈshä-kiŋ-lē How to pronounce shocking (audio)
adverb

shocking

2 of 2

present participle of shock entry 2, shock entry 6

Synonyms of shocking

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Adjective

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Examples of shocking in a Sentence

Adjective The number of young teenagers who smoke is shocking. a shocking waste of money The building is in a shocking state.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
The shocking report also revealed efforts by church leaders to conceal abuse. — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2026 Her work at both ends of the court — including dropping a shocking 30 points in Game 2 against the league’s best defense — has led the Dream to a dominant start in the series. — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026 Here's how that shakes out; the results are nuanced, but not exactly shocking. — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026 But the shocking death of her larger-than-life father changes everything. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shocking

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1653, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shocking was in 1653

Phrases Containing shocking

Rhymes for shocking

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Browse Nearby Words

shock horror
shocking
shockingly
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Cite this Entry

“Shocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shocking. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

shocking

adjective
shock·​ing
: causing horror or disgust
a shocking crime
shocking behavior
shockingly
-iŋ-lē How to pronounce shocking (audio)
adverb
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