How to Use shock value in a Sentence

shock value

noun
  • So the records was full of shock value.
    — Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 23 Sep. 2025
  • None of this is presented for pure shock value.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2026
  • In so many movies, a cat is run over for laughs or something bad happens to a dog for shock value.
    — Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 8 May 2023
  • That’s the series going for shock value.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Horror tastes are shifting Scary movies used to be all about shock value.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 1 June 2026
  • Her book never dips into trauma for shock value alone.
    — The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
  • The scene isn’t excessively played for shock value or tragedy.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 26 June 2026
  • Whether it's considered a work of art or something for shock value is up for debate.
    — Alex Perry, The Enquirer, 12 Oct. 2024
  • Or did the show just pull back on a compelling dynamic so that the finale had some shock value?
    — Patricia Karounos, refinery29.com, 10 Sep. 2024
  • The White House is after something more than just shock value.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2025
  • And the social impact, of course, goes far beyond the shock value of viral videos.
    — David McKenzie, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
  • These songs smartly aim much higher than mere shock value, and that makes the humor all the deeper.
    — Matthew J. Palm, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Partly because there’s money in the shock value.
    — H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
  • Partly because there's money in the shock value.
    — H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
  • The shock value behind his imagery makes a strong first impression.
    — Bianca Salonga, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024
  • Despite the initial shock value, the zany act charmed Mandel.
    — USA TODAY, 2 Aug. 2023
  • While many of its campaigns push boundaries, the intent is never to provoke for shock value alone.
    — Jenny B. Fine, WWD, 16 Aug. 2024
  • So, this film’s shock value was neither a negative nor part of its attraction?
    — Patrick Frater, Variety, 27 June 2024
  • The line was no mere deep cut, and wasn’t spouted by a reckless twentysomething seeking shock value.
    — Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 25 May 2023
  • The contests have staying power in part because of their shock value, Bitar said.
    — Elise Hammond, CNN Money, 4 July 2025
  • The contests have staying power in part because of their shock value, Bitar said.
    — Elise Hammond, CNN, 29 June 2024
  • But Tan’s story goes well beyond the shock value of his appearance.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
  • But Young never lets the shock value eclipse her musical substance.
    — Thania Garcia, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
  • And thank goodness, because again, this was the shock value of this and the surprise fear factor was the hardest part to get through.
    — Elizabeth Stanton, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025
  • And when the film does dare to venture beyond shock value, the potential is staggering.
    — David Opie, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Rather, the film relies on them for shock value—in effect, uses them as entertainment.
    — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2023
  • Yes, his cruelty lost its shock value over time, but his motivations always tracked.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 20 May 2026
  • Granted, there hasn't yet been a kill of the same game-changing shock value as the beheading of Ned Stark.
    — Megan McCluskey, TIME, 3 July 2024
  • Instead, The Abandons barges full tilt into sexism and shock value.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
  • These stories go beyond supplying shock value.
    — Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shock value.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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