: inspiring horror, dismay, or disgust
living under appalling conditions
appalling savagery
appallingly
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of appalling in a Sentence
We drove by an appalling accident on the highway.
opening your mouth to show me your half-chewed food is absolutely appalling
Recent Examples on the Web
Now comes another shock to the system, with the appalling murder of at least 139 people in a terror attack at a concert hall just outside Moscow.
—
Nathan Hodge, CNN, 25 Mar. 2024
What other industry produces billions in revenue selling something that almost everyone in America—with some notable and appalling exceptions—can get basically for free?
—Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2024
In part, people closed rank around their communities in response to the appalling violence against civilians that occurred on both sides of the conflict.
—Ayen Deng Bior, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Mar. 2024
Television Erin Moriarty refuses to be a prop in Megyn Kelly’s ‘appalling’ plastic surgery takes
Jan. 29, 2024
Marco Gianuzzi, Rajpaul’s husband, testified Tuesday that the defendants performed the procedure on his wife a total of three times, including the deadly incident in 2019.
—Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2024
To hear calls for the systematic segregation and firing of anyone who deems genocide appalling is shocking.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024
In Florida, the adult booster rate is an appalling 7.7%.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024
Some absolutely atrocious antisemitism at the Matthews Town Council public forum tonight - appalling to see some Councilmembers just sit in silence, along with candidates in the audience.
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2024
Perhaps this week’s decision to relax the rules on fighting measles will mark just one more step along that path: Once again, Florida’s surgeon general will have taken an appalling stance that ends up having no effect.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2024
Nathan Hodge, CNN, 25 Mar. 2024
What other industry produces billions in revenue selling something that almost everyone in America—with some notable and appalling exceptions—can get basically for free?
—Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2024
In part, people closed rank around their communities in response to the appalling violence against civilians that occurred on both sides of the conflict.
—Ayen Deng Bior, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Mar. 2024
Television Erin Moriarty refuses to be a prop in Megyn Kelly’s ‘appalling’ plastic surgery takes
Jan. 29, 2024
Marco Gianuzzi, Rajpaul’s husband, testified Tuesday that the defendants performed the procedure on his wife a total of three times, including the deadly incident in 2019.
—Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2024
To hear calls for the systematic segregation and firing of anyone who deems genocide appalling is shocking.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024
In Florida, the adult booster rate is an appalling 7.7%.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024
Some absolutely atrocious antisemitism at the Matthews Town Council public forum tonight - appalling to see some Councilmembers just sit in silence, along with candidates in the audience.
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2024
Perhaps this week’s decision to relax the rules on fighting measles will mark just one more step along that path: Once again, Florida’s surgeon general will have taken an appalling stance that ends up having no effect.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'appalling.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near appalling
Cite this Entry
“Appalling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appalling. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
appalling
adjective
ap·pall·ing
ə-ˈpȯl-iŋ
: inspiring horror or dismay : shocking
appallingly
adverb
More from Merriam-Webster on appalling
Nglish: Translation of appalling for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of appalling for Arabic Speakers
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