The meaning of SHOCKING is extremely startling, distressing, or offensive. How to use shocking in a sentence.

SHOCKING definition: causing intense surprise, disgust, horror, etc. See examples of shocking used in a sentence.

SHOCKING definition: 1. offensive, upsetting, or immoral: 2. extremely bad or unpleasant, or of very low quality: 3…. Learn more.

Define shocking. shocking synonyms, shocking pronunciation, shocking translation, English dictionary definition of shocking. adj. 1. Highly disturbing emotionally.

Definition of shocking adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

You can say that something is shocking if you think that it is morally wrong. It is shocking that nothing was said.

It was like seeing the face of a long-lost loved one appear unexpectedly in a crowd, shocking and yet so very familiar, as if the person in question had never been lost at all.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: shocking /ˈʃɒkɪŋ/ adj causing shock, horror, or disgust shocking pink ⇒ a vivid or garish shade of pink informal very bad or terrible: …

Causing a shock of indignation, disgust, distress, or horror; extremely offensive, painful, or repugnant. Synonyms Wicked, Scandalous, etc. (see atrocious), frightful, dreadful, terrible, revolting, …

Feb 1, 2026 · Adjective shocking (comparative more shocking, superlative most shocking) Inspiring shock; startling. Unusually obscene or lewd. (colloquial) Extremely bad. What a shocking calamity!