shocking
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
These five adjectives all describe something strongly negative, but they differ in emphasis. 'Shocking' is the broadest — it combines surprise with moral offense and can apply to a wide range of situations, from bad behaviour to disturbing news. 'Appalling' focuses on the emotional reaction of horror or dismay; something appalling makes you feel sick or deeply disturbed. 'Outrageous' adds anger and indignation — it often describes behaviour that is not just wrong but brazenly unfair or excessive. 'Scandalous' ties the offense to reputation damage, typically involving secrets about money, sex, or dishonesty. 'Disgraceful' centres on shame and loss of respect; it is commonly used for behaviour that humiliates a person, group, or institution. For example: the corruption was shocking (surprising and wrong), appalling (horrifying in its cruelty), outrageous (deliberately unfair), scandalous (a secret shame), and disgraceful (bringing dishonour on the whole department).
Common collocations
Phrases
- it is shocking that
- what is shocking is
- come as a shocking surprise
- find something shocking
Etymology
The word 'shocking' comes from the verb 'shock', which entered English in the 1500s from French 'choc', meaning 'a violent collision or blow'. The original sense was physical — a sudden impact, like an army colliding in battle. By the 1600s, the meaning had expanded to emotional and moral disturbance, describing events that 'hit' a person psychologically. The adjective 'shocking' appeared in the 1600s, first meaning 'causing violent distress' and later developing the informal 'very bad' sense in British English during the 1800s.