appal
C1-C2Formal, journalistic, literary
Definition
Meaning
To cause someone to feel great shock, horror, or strong disapproval.
To fill with dismay; to shock or deeply unsettle someone emotionally or morally.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a profound level of shock that is morally or emotionally overwhelming. Often used in contexts involving cruelty, injustice, or extreme disregard for decency.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'appal' is standard British English. The American English spelling is 'appall', with a double 'l'.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties—strong moral/emotional shock.
Frequency
More common in British media and formal writing than in everyday American speech, though understood in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Sb] is appalled by/at [sth][Sth] appals [sb][It] appals [sb] that...find it appalling (that/to)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(be) appalled at the very idea”
- “to one's appalled astonishment”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could be used in ethical business contexts, e.g., 'Shareholders were appalled by the corruption scandal.'
Academic
Used in humanities and social sciences discussing historical atrocities, ethical breaches, or social injustice.
Everyday
Used for strong personal reactions to news of cruelty, gross negligence, or extreme rudeness.
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The sheer waste of resources appals me.
- We were appalled to discover the conditions in the shelter.
American English
- The lack of gun control laws appalls many visitors.
- I am appalled at the disrespect shown to the office.
adverb
British English
- The team played appallingly bad in the first half.
- He was appallingly rude to the staff.
American English
- The system failed appallingly during the crisis.
- She is appallingly ignorant of basic history.
adjective
British English
- The appalling state of the pavements is a public hazard.
- She gave an appalling performance in the interview.
American English
- The appalling cost of healthcare is a national crisis.
- His appalling manners ruined the dinner.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The cruelty of the story appalled the children.
- I was appalled by the amount of food wasted.
- The international community is appalled by the regime's human rights abuses.
- Many voters were appalled at the candidate's dishonest campaign.
- The committee's blatant disregard for due process appalled even its staunchest supporters.
- One is simultaneously appalled and fascinated by the meticulous detail of the report's findings.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A **PAL** you trust does something so horrible it shocks you—you are APPALed by your pal's actions.
Conceptual Metaphor
SHOCK IS A PHYSICAL BLOW / MORAL CORRUPTION IS A CONTAMINANT (e.g., 'sickened by', 'revolted by').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with weaker words like 'удивлять' (to surprise). Closer equivalents: 'шокировать', 'ужасать', 'приводить в ужас'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for mild surprise (incorrect). Misspelling as 'appall' in UK English or 'appal' in US English. Using wrong preposition (e.g., 'appalled from' instead of 'appalled by/at').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'appalled' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Appal' implies a deeper, often moral or ethical, horror and stronger disapproval than the more general 'shock'.
Typically yes, for serious moral failings or extreme negativity. However, in hyperbolic informal speech, it can be weakened (e.g., 'The weather is appalling').
Most commonly 'by' or 'at'. 'Appalled by the action', 'appalled at the thought'.
Yes, in modern usage, 'appalling' is frequently used as an intensifying adjective (e.g., 'appalling behaviour'), while the verb is more common in passive constructions (e.g., 'I was appalled').