shocking (ˈʃɒkɪŋ
)
Definitions
adjective
- causing shock, horror, or disgust
- See shocking pink
- informal very bad or terrible ⇒
shocking weather
Alternative Forms
ˈshockingly adverb ˈshockingness nounSynonyms
View thesaurus entry1shock1 (ʃɒk)
Definitions
verb
- to experience or cause to experience extreme horror, disgust, surprise, etc ⇒
the atrocities shocked us
she shocks easily
- to cause a state of shock in (a person)
- to come or cause to come into violent contact; jar
noun
- a sudden and violent jarring blow or impact
- something that causes a sudden and violent disturbance in the emotions ⇒
the shock of her father's death made her ill
- pathology a state of bodily collapse or near collapse caused by circulatory failure or sudden lowering of the blood pressure, as from severe bleeding, burns, fright, etc
- pathology pain and muscular spasm as the physical reaction to an electric current passing through the body
Alternative Forms
ˈshockable adjective ˌshockaˈbility nounWord Origin
C16: from Old French choc, from choquier to make violent contact with, of Germanic origin; related to Middle High German schocSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
upset,
blow,
trauma,
bombshell,
turn,
distress,
disturbance,
consternation,
whammy,
state of shock
rude awakening,
bolt from the blue
prostration,
2shock2 (ʃɒk)
Definitions
noun
- a number of sheaves set on end in a field to dry
- a pile or stack of unthreshed corn
verb
- (tr) to set up (sheaves) in shocks
Word Origin
C14: probably of Germanic origin; compare Middle Low German, Middle Dutch schok shock of corn, group of sixtyTranslations
- British English:
shocking
You can say that something is shocking if you think that it is very bad.The newspaper story was shocking.ˈʃɒkɪŋ ADJECTIVE The newspaper story was shocking.
- Spanish:
espeluznante
adj
- French:
choquant
adj
- German:
schockierend
adj
- Chinese: 令人震惊的 adj
- Arabic: مُرَوِّع adj
- Portuguese: chocante adj
- Russian: шокирующий adj шокирующая
- Croatian: šokantan adj šokantna
- Czech: šokující adj
- Danish: chokerende adj
- Dutch: schokkerend adj
- Finnish: järkyttävä adj
- Greek: σκανδαλιστικός adj σκανδαλιστική
- Italian: scioccante adj
- Japanese: ショッキングな no_posp
- Korean: 충격적인 adj
- Norwegian: sjokkerende adj
- Polish: wstrząsający adj wstrząsająca
- Brazilian Portuguese: chocante adj
- European Spanish:
espeluznante
adj
- Swedish: chockerande adj
- Thai: ซึ่งตกใจสุดขีด adj
- Turkish: yüzkızartıcı adj
- Vietnamese: rất tồi adj
Usage examples
Bizarre, shocking , wonderful, it had its place in the scheme of her life.
, Compulsion (1994)And obviously the governmment's in a pretty shocking state at the moment, so maybe they're trying to have their say.
NME (New Musical Express) (2004)To see it confused with America per se was actually shocking.
Globe and Mail (2003)My camp had satellite TV, so I was able to watch the shocking events of last week.
Glasgow Herald (2001)They can be produced by either a single shocking experience or a more prolonged disagreeable strain.
, The Hayfever Handbook - a summer survival guide (1988)