adj
Uncommon
appalled
Appalled (adj) means Shocked and horrified, usually by something offensive or upsetting. Example: “She was appalled by the state of the abandoned building.”
adj
1
Shocked and horrified, usually by something offensive or upsetting.
"Dr. Frank Hoffman, a gynecologist and founder of the program, says he was appalled by the sheer numbers of cases of early-stage breast cancer that were being missed, not just in Germany but around the world."
— Kamala Thiagarajan, Women who are blind play a critical role in identifying possible breast cancers (2024)
"West's friends were so appalled by the nature of his death that they arranged for a wooden memorial in the churchyard of St Laurence's, constructed aptly from a railway sleeper."
— Stephen Roberts, Stories and facts behind railway plaques: Reading (1840) (2021)
"She was appalled by the state of the abandoned building."
"He felt appalled at how the animals were being treated."
How to use appalled
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFeeling deep shock and disgust at something wrong or upsetting.
Common pairings
appalled by
appalled at
utterly appalled
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more appalled
- Superlative
- most appalled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She was _____ by the state of the abandoned building.
Etymology
From the verb "appall," "-ed" added to describe the resulting state.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for appalled
See all rhymes for appalled →Frequently asked questions
What does “appalled” mean?
The word “appalled” means shocked and horrified, usually by something offensive or upsetting. In plain terms, feeling deep shock and disgust at something wrong or upsetting.
How do you use “appalled” in a sentence?
Here is “appalled” used in a sentence: “She was appalled by the state of the abandoned building.”
What part of speech is “appalled”?
“Appalled” is an adjective.
Is “appalled” a common word?
“Appalled” is an uncommon word in modern English.
