Appalling
/əˈpɔːlɪŋ/
adjectiveIntermediateCommonGeneral
Meaning
Questions
Definitions
1
Extremely bad or unpleasant; shocking.
/əˈpɔːlɪŋ/
adjectivenegativeIntermediate
General
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."
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.
Practice
Base: appal
apallingappoallingappallling
Usage
20%Spoken
80%Written