shocked

shocked — adjective

1. feeling great surprise and sadness when something bad happens that you did not e

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

feeling great surprise and sadness when something bad happens that you did not expect — like hearing that a friend has lost their job or seeing a familiar building destroyed by fire.

Example

Karim was shocked when he heard that the factory was closing down.

be shocked + when-clause (unexpected news)

The villagers were shocked to see their school flooded after the storm.

be shocked + to-infinitive

Common collocations
  • deeply shocked
  • visibly shocked
  • shocked at
  • shocked by
Synonyms
  • stunned

    even more strongly surprised, often unable to react quickly

  • horrified

    shocked and also frightened or disgusted

  • astounded

    very surprised, often but not always by something negative

Antonyms
  • unsurprised

    expecting what happened; not caught off guard

Grammar Patterns

be shocked + by/at

be shocked + to-infinitive

be shocked + that-clause

Usage Note

Frequently used in passive-like constructions with 'be' (be shocked). The cause is introduced by 'at', 'by', or a 'that'-clause. 'Shocked' describes a temporary emotional state, not a permanent trait.

Common Mistakes

The news was very shocked.
The news was very shocking.
Use 'shocking' for the thing that causes shock; 'shocked' is for the person who feels it.

2. feeling angry or offended because something seems unfair or wrong — for example,

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

feeling angry or offended because something seems unfair or wrong — for example, learning that a company treats its workers unfairly or hearing someone make a hateful comment.

Example

Maeve was shocked by the rude comments people made on social media.

be shocked by [something morally wrong]

Gabriel felt shocked when his boss asked him to lie to customers.

Common collocations
  • morally shocked
  • shocked at
  • shocked that
Synonyms
  • appalled

    strongly shocked and dismayed by something wrong

  • outraged

    angry and shocked, with a stronger sense of injustice

  • scandalized

    shocked by behaviour that violates social or moral norms

Antonyms
  • indifferent

    not caring about right and wrong in the situation

  • approving

    not offended but accepting of the behaviour

Grammar Patterns

be shocked + by/at

be shocked + that-clause

be shocked + to-infinitive

Usage Note

This sense carries a moral judgment. Unlike sense 1, the cause is not simply bad luck or an accident but something the speaker considers unjust or improper. Often used with 'at' or 'that'.

Common Mistakes

I was shocked when I dropped my phone.
I was shocked when the manager told us to ignore safety rules.
Sense 2 is for morally wrong behaviour, not everyday mishaps.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a strong negative reaction to something unexpected. 'Shocked' is the most general and widely used: it covers any unpleasant surprise, from bad news to moral outrage. 'Stunned' emphasises the temporary inability to react — a person who is stunned feels too surprised to speak or move. 'Horrified' adds an element of fear or disgust: you are horrified by something that frightens or repels you, such as a violent scene. 'Appalled' is close to shocked but carries a stronger sense of disappointment and disapproval, often in response to injustice or poor behaviour. For example: 'I was shocked that the shop closed' (unexpected news); 'He stood stunned, unable to say a word' (too surprised to respond); 'The parents were horrified by the film's violence' (frightened and disgusted); 'The public was appalled by the hospital's negligence' (strong disapproval of wrongdoing).

shocked ↗stunnedhorrified ↗appalled

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • shocked to hear
  • shocked to learn
  • shocked to find

Prepositions

Etymology

FrenchEnglish

'Shocked' comes from the verb 'shock', which entered English in the 1500s from the French word 'choc', meaning a violent collision or blow. The emotional meaning — a sudden upsetting surprise — developed in the 1700s.