Appalling
/əˈpɔːlɪŋ/
adjectiveIntermediate📊CommonEmotion
1 meaning2 questions
Definitions
1
Extremely bad or unpleasant; shocking.
/əˈpɔːlɪŋ/
adjectivenegativeIntermediate
Emotion
Causing shock or dismay; horrific.
The smell was appalling.
💡 Simply: Very bad or upsetting.
More Examples
2
The weather was appalling.
How It's Used
News Reporting
"The appalling conditions in the refugee camp were widely reported."
Literature
"The novel depicted an appalling act of violence."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms
From Middle English *appallen, from Old French *apalir, from *a- + *palir "to grow pale." Originally meaning 'to turn pale with fear,' it evolved to describe something causing such fear or disgust.
While the word has always carried a negative connotation, its intensity has perhaps increased over time, reflecting societal shifts in what is considered acceptable.
Memory tip
Imagine a pale face, 'pal' + 'ing', showing the shock and dismay.
Word Origin
LanguageOld French
Original meaning
"to grow pale"
Base: appal
appalling conditionsappalling behaviourappalling state
Common misspellings
apallingappoallingappallling
Practice
Usage
20%Spoken
80%Written