1
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
opening your mouth to show me your half-chewed food is absolutely appalling
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in horrific
extremely disturbing or repellent
appalling crimes against humanity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in shocking
to cause an unpleasant surprise for
conditions inside the house overrun with cats simply appalled animal control officers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of appalling
Marc Champion, Twin Cities, 14 Aug. 2025
Every day the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens and hostages taken by Hamas are being held in appalling and inhuman conditions.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Aug. 2025
Inviting oneself on an anniversary trip is already appalling.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2025
But the latest hostage videos, showing emaciated captives in a, frankly, appalling state have provoked shock and outrage across Israel.
—Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for appalling
Adjective
The implications for Gaza and its residents are appalling.
—Marc Champion, Twin Cities, 14 Aug. 2025
Every day the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens and hostages taken by Hamas are being held in appalling and inhuman conditions.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Aug. 2025
Inviting oneself on an anniversary trip is already appalling.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2025
But the latest hostage videos, showing emaciated captives in a, frankly, appalling state have provoked shock and outrage across Israel.
—Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for appalling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appalling
Adjective
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This behavior is disgusting and they should be fired.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Sep. 2025
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And yet … those conversations are also entertainingly provocative, and they’re accompanied by some of the scariest and most disgusting scenes the series has delivered up to now.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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There are many moments in the trailer that showcase some horrific imagery, such as Nina screaming and crying, and what appears to be the character also holding a bloody shard of glass.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
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As users sought information about Kirk’s condition, the bot, Grok, declared to some of them that the horrific footage was satire.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The first season concludes with patriarch Horace Bellaire marrying Kimmie from his hospital bed, leaving her his inheritance and shocking his spoiled heirs.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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The gruesome killing has quickly become a cause célèbre for the administration, who for months have been pointing to shocking crimes as proof that cities with Democratic leaders have allowed criminals to run amok.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Tom’s appointees on the task force include Lizzie (Alison Oliver), a state police officer who’s regularly tormented by her fellow cops, and Aleah (Thuso Mbedu), who wins over a suspect in interrogation by sharing awful details of her past.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
17 Sep. 2025
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His college tape from Iowa showed a kid with excellent movement skills, perfect for the Niners’ offense, but with awful footwork in pass protection.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But everything changes when a string of gruesome killings—which grow increasingly bizarre, with victims covered in rashes and found in deranged, violent states—involves his young daughter Hyo-jin (Kim Hwan-hee).—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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TikTok prohibits gory, gruesome or extremely violent clips.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Television cameras captured the ensuing violence, horrifying much of the nation.—
Time,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
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The grisly murder stayed a local story until horrifying CCTV footage of the incident started making the rounds on social media last weekend.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Can a horrible 17-year-old turn into a 31-year-old person with integrity and empathy?—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
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Can a 17-year-old horrible person turn into a 31-year-old person with integrity and empathy?—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Yes, there are so much terrible stuff online.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Sep. 2025
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But that obviously terrible call compromised the integrity of that game last night, and that's something the sport should be looking to avoid.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Appalling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appalling. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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