appalling
uh-PAW-lihng
Appalling (adj) means Shockingly bad or unpleasant; horrifying. Example: “The hotel room was in an appalling state of disrepair.”
adj
1
Shockingly bad or unpleasant; horrifying.
"The hotel room was in an appalling state of disrepair."
"Reports described appalling conditions in the refugee camp."
How to use appalling
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishExtremely bad, shocking, or upsetting.
Common pairings
appalling conditions
appalling behavior
absolutely appalling
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more appalling
- Superlative
- most appalling
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The hotel room was in an _____ state of disrepair.
Etymology
From "appall" plus "-ing," ultimately from Old French apalir, "to grow pale."
Related words
Rhymes for appalling
See all rhymes for appalling →Frequently asked questions
What does “appalling” mean?
The word “appalling” means shockingly bad or unpleasant; horrifying. In plain terms, extremely bad, shocking, or upsetting.
How do you pronounce “appalling”?
“Appalling” is pronounced uh-PAW-lihng (/əˈpɔːlɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “appalling” in a sentence?
Here is “appalling” used in a sentence: “The hotel room was in an appalling state of disrepair.”
What is another word for “appalling”?
Words with a similar meaning to “appalling” include awful, grotesque, horrid, hideous and terrible.
What part of speech is “appalling”?
“Appalling” is an adjective.
Where does the word “appalling” come from?
The word “appalling” comes from Old French. From "appall" plus "-ing," ultimately from Old French apalir, "to grow pale.".
Is “appalling” a common word?
“Appalling” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
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