variants
also appal
as in to shock
to cause an unpleasant surprise for
conditions inside the house overrun with cats simply appalled animal control officers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of appall
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
Russia and China claim to be appalled, too, but to use a classic diplomatic expression, the leaders in Beijing and Moscow should be invited, with all due respect, to shut their traps.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Truly appalling friend counsel here from Mindy.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Aggie is appalled at Nile’s presumptuousness, his entitlement.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
Several member governments were appalled by the strikes, arguing that the United States acted unilaterally, dangerously, and without regard for international norms.
—Oliver Stuenkel, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2025
Fox News Digital columnist Hugh Hewitt writes that all Americans should be shocked and appalled at the return of antisemitism.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Roberts’s initial statement, delivered in a video posted to social media, appalled a large part of the political right, which has sought to distance itself from Fuentes.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 3 Nov. 2025
There would have been people who were appalled by what was going on.
—James Frater, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appall
Verb
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An injury to Jordan Cox, who had been due to keep wicket, saw a reshuffle and a decision that shocked everyone.—
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On Tuesday night, the football program was shocked to see on social media that Williams had announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal.—
Verb
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Flojaune Cofer, who lost a close race in 2024 for Sacramento mayor and has been mulling a run for the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, said she was horrified by the news out of Venezuela.—
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Some viewers were horrified while others were intrigued.—
Verb
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So we were stunned to read about how Sean Harden, chair of the Chicago Board of Education as duly appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, reportedly had launched two internal investigations into how that board’s super-secret business got into the hands of reporters.—
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Others were stunned by individual line items.—
Verb
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The Secretary of State called the event an attempt to frighten public servants.—
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But monks there complained that the slain king was walking around at night, frightening them with strange sounds.—
Cite this Entry
“Appall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appall. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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