Appalling — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ə-ˈpȯ-liŋ/ ap·pall·ing

Meaning & Definition of Appalling

Appalling (adjective)

  1. inspiring horror, dismay, or disgust

Appalling (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment

    "opening your mouth to show me your half-chewed food is absolutely appalling"

    similar: abhorrent, abominable, awful, disgusting, distasteful, dreadful, evil, foul, fulsome, gross, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, loathsome, nasty, nauseating, nauseous, noisome, noxious, obnoxious, obscene, odious, offensive, rancid, repellent, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, scandalous, shocking, sickening, ugly
    related: exceptionable, objectionable, brackish, disagreeable, dislikable, unpleasant, contemptible, despicable, detestable, hard, hateful, unhealthy, unsavory, unwholesome, execrable, lousy, miserable, atrocious, frightful, ghastly, grim, grisly, gruesome, heinous, horrific, horrifying, lurid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish, sick, sickish, sickly, terrible, unspeakable, vile, off-putting, undesirable, unwanted, unwelcome, barbarous, unchristian, uncivilized, ungodly, unholy, distressing, disturbing, upsetting
    opposite: innocuous, inoffensive
    near: acceptable, agreeable, alluring, appealing, attractive, blessed, congenial, darling, delectable, delicious, delightful, delightsome, desirable, dreamy, dulcet, enjoyable, felicitous, gratifying, heavenly, inviting, likable, luscious, nice, palatable, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, savory, sweet, welcome, unexceptionable, unobjectionable, healthful, healthy, restorative, salubrious, salutary, wholesome

  2. extremely disturbing or repellent

    "appalling crimes against humanity"

    similar: atrocious, awful, dreadful, frightful, ghastly, grisly, gruesome, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, horrific, horrifying, lurid, macabre, monstrous, nightmare, nightmarish, shocking, terrible, terrific
    related: alarming, bloodcurdling, dire, direful, fearful, fearsome, forbidding, formidable, frightening, gut-wrenching, hair-raising, heart-stopping, intimidating, redoubtable, scary, terrifying, abhorrent, deplorable, disagreeable, disgusting, distasteful, loathsome, nauseating, noisome, obnoxious, obscene, offensive, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, sickening, abominable, evil, foul, heinous, noxious, odious, unspeakable, vile, grotesque, ugly, unsightly
    near: agreeable, appealing, attractive, delectable, delicious, delightful, enjoyable, enticing, inviting, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, welcome, cheering, comforting, soothing

Appalling (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to cause an unpleasant surprise for

    "conditions inside the house overrun with cats simply appalled animal control officers"

    similar: flooring, jolting, shaking up, shocking, knocking for a loop
    related: astonishing, bowling over, dumbfounding, flabbergasting, freaking (out), stunning, stupefying, affrighting, alarming, dismaying, frightening, frighting, horrifying, panicking, scarifying, scaring, spooking, startling, terrifying, terrorizing, disgusting, nauseating, repelling, revolting, sickening, turning off, displeasing, offending, outraging, scandalizing, amazing, astounding, awing, chilling, daunting, demoralizing, dispiriting, emasculating, undoing, unmanning, unnerving, unstringing, discomforting, discomposing, disconcerting, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, perturbing, shaking, unsettling, upsetting, weirding out, crushing, overpowering, overwhelming
    near: buffering, cushioning, delighting, gratifying, pleasing, rejoicing, tickling, charming, enticing, tempting, assuring, cheering, comforting, consoling, solacing, soothing, reassuring

Related Entry: Appall (verb)

Appall is a different word from Appalling. The synonyms below are for appall, not for appalling.

  1. to cause an unpleasant surprise for

    "conditions inside the house overrun with cats simply appalled animal control officers"

    similar: floor, jolt, shake up, shock, knock for a loop
    related: astonish, bowl over, dumbfound, flabbergast, freak (out), stun, stupefy, affright, alarm, dismay, fright, frighten, horrify, panic, scare, scarify, spook, startle, terrify, terrorize, disgust, nauseate, repel, revolt, sicken, turn off, displease, offend, outrage, scandalize, amaze, astound, awe, chill, daunt, demoralize, dispirit, emasculate, undo, unman, unnerve, unstring, discomfort, discompose, disconcert, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, shake, unsettle, upset, weird out, crush, overpower, overwhelm
    near: buffer, cushion, delight, gratify, please, rejoice, tickle, charm, entice, tempt, assure, cheer, comfort, console, solace, soothe, reassure

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Appalling

The most common words with a similar meaning to Appalling:

abhorrent, abominable, awful, disgusting, distasteful, dreadful, evil, foul, fulsome, gross, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, loathsome, nasty, nauseating, nauseous, noisome, noxious, obnoxious, obscene, odious, offensive, rancid, repellent, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, scandalous, shocking, sickening, ugly, atrocious, frightful, ghastly, grisly, gruesome, horrific, horrifying

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Appalling

Words with the opposite meaning of Appalling:

innocuous, inoffensive

Related Words for Appalling

exceptionable, objectionable, brackish, disagreeable, dislikable, unpleasant, contemptible, despicable, detestable, hard, hateful, unhealthy, unsavory, unwholesome, execrable, lousy, miserable, grim, heinous, sick, sickish, sickly, unspeakable, vile, off-putting, undesirable, unwanted, unwelcome, barbarous, unchristian

Near Antonyms of Appalling

acceptable, agreeable, alluring, appealing, attractive, blessed, congenial, darling, delectable, delicious, delightful, delightsome, desirable, dreamy, dulcet, enjoyable, felicitous, gratifying, heavenly, inviting, likable, luscious, nice, palatable, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, savory, sweet

Word Forms of Appalling

Derived words: appallingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Appalling

from present participle of appall

First known use: 1635

Frequently Asked Questions about Appalling

What does "Appalling" mean?

"Appalling" means inspiring horror, dismay, or disgust. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: inspiring horror, dismay, or disgust. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Appalling"?

Other words for "Appalling" include abhorrent, abominable, awful, disgusting, distasteful, dreadful, evil and foul. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Appalling" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Appalling"?

There are 151 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Appalling". Common alternatives include abhorrent, abominable, awful, disgusting, distasteful, dreadful, evil, foul, fulsome and gross.

What is the opposite of "Appalling"?

Antonyms of "Appalling" include innocuous and inoffensive. Near antonyms include acceptable, agreeable, alluring and appealing.

How do you use "Appalling" in a sentence?

Examples of "Appalling" in a sentence: "opening your mouth to show me your half-chewed food is absolutely appalling"; "appalling crimes against humanity"; "conditions inside the house overrun with cats simply appalled animal control officers".

Is "Appalling" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Appalling" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Appalling"?

"Appalling" is pronounced /ə-ˈpȯ-liŋ/ and divided into syllables as ap·pall·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Appalling"?

"Appalling" comes from from present participle of appall. First known use: 1635.