: extremely startling, distressing, or offensive
shocking news
Examples of shocking in a Sentence
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
Then came the shocking fiasco in New Orleans, a 40-22 loss to the Eagles.
—
Kansas City Star, 1 Jan. 2026
Aside from her ability to identify the specific shirt and remember the moment in pop culture where it had been worn, among the most shocking parts about it is the fact that the Free People item sold for $6 on Depop.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
Not everyone is a fan of wine (shocking but true), so your bar should also include a selection of beer.
—Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
An investigation by the Miami Herald and WLRN reveals the shocking toll and the failures that led to it.
—Daniel Rivero, Miami Herald, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shocking
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Kansas City Star, 1 Jan. 2026
Aside from her ability to identify the specific shirt and remember the moment in pop culture where it had been worn, among the most shocking parts about it is the fact that the Free People item sold for $6 on Depop.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
Not everyone is a fan of wine (shocking but true), so your bar should also include a selection of beer.
—Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
An investigation by the Miami Herald and WLRN reveals the shocking toll and the failures that led to it.
—Daniel Rivero, Miami Herald, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shocking
Cite this Entry
“Shocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shocking. Accessed 3 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shocking
adjective
shock·ing
: causing horror or disgust
a shocking crime
shocking behavior
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