APPALLING Synonyms: 215 Similar and Opposite Words

appalling 1 of 2

adjective

ə-ˈpȯ-liŋ

Definition of appalling

as in disgusting

causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment opening your mouth to show me your half-chewed food is absolutely appalling

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in horrific

extremely disturbing or repellent appalling crimes against humanity

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

appalling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of appall

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of appalling

Adjective

Trump paid them substandard wages, and their working conditions were appalling. — Kai Bird, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 By 2023, that number had fallen to roughly 107,000 — an appalling 45% decline. — Laurel Donnellan, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Verb

The young Forster recoiled from the school’s culture of authoritarianism and militaristic chauvinism, which may have found expression in the students’ often appalling attitudes toward their own mothers. — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 7 May 2026 Of all the recent poster boys for appalling misbehavior by the State Police, Michael Proctor would of course rank number one. — Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for appalling

Recent Examples of Synonyms for appalling

Adjective

There is real hope of a postseason push, with the disgusting state of the American League leaving the door open for any team that dares to play well.

— Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
This whole situation is discriminatory, disgusting, and quite frankly, Orwellian.

— Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of disgusting

Adjective

The chilling new detail about Jesus Acosta’s horrific spree was revealed at the 31-year-old ex-con’s arraignment in Bronx Criminal Court late Sunday, where he was ordered held without bail for the two cold-blooded shootings.

— John Annese, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026
Then there is the horrific crash on the McHenry County side of the Fox River, where on July 25 Alan Telmini and Magdalena Jablonska, both from Des Plaines, were cruising the river south of the McHenry Dam.

— Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of horrific

Verb

In 1988, 27-year-old Japanese American graphic artist Karen Toshima was killed by a stray bullet during a gang confrontation on Broxton Avenue, shocking Angelenos who had treated gun violence as a problem largely confined to poor parts of the city.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2026
On Monday June 29, a bomb exploded on the doorstep of Yermolaiev’s luxury apartment in Monaco, gravely injuring the Ukrainian millionaire and shocking residents of the wealthy city state.

— Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of shocking

Adjective

Cyber stocks late last year and into 2026 were being lumped into the awful enterprise software trade.

— Paulina Likos, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
In 2024, Burke’s squad dragged itself off the mat after an awful (yet at the time, typical) start to the season to go unbeaten in 12 of 13 matches down the stretch and narrowly miss the playoffs.

— Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of awful

Adjective

Anne Hathaway is a leftist, woke, horrible choice for DAYS OF THUNDER NASCAR audience who are MAGA.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026
These two rubber bands in our throat are affected by everything from hormones to psychology to a bad day to a horrible night’s sleep to the sniffles or whatever.

— Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of horrible

Adjective

Whether the outcome will be terrible or beautiful is unclear.

— Robert Rubsam, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026
Feral pigeons are famously terrible nest builders and are drawn to buildings and roofs with features like solar panels, chimneys, eaves, and AC units to make their homes.

— Molly Burford, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of terrible

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Style

“Appalling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appalling. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of appalling

adjective

verb

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