appalled
B2formal, literary, journalistic; used in serious contexts. Less common in casual conversation.
Definition
Meaning
a strong feeling of shock, horror, or dismay at something considered morally wrong or deeply unpleasant.
Can also describe a feeling of profound disappointment or revulsion, often mixed with disbelief, at actions, events, or states of affairs. Implies a violation of one's moral or ethical sensibilities.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a reaction to something perceived as profoundly wrong, offensive, or horrific. It is stronger than 'shocked' or 'upset'. The adjective form 'appalling' describes the thing causing the feeling.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the word identically. Slight preference in UK English for spelling the past tense as 'appalled' vs. 'appalled' (same).
Connotations
Equally strong in both dialects. May be perceived as slightly more formal/common in UK English in certain written contexts.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in serious news and commentary in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be appalled by somethingbe appalled at somethingbe appalled to see/hear/learn/find (that)...be appalled that...Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(be) appalled by/at the very idea”
- “stare in appalled silence”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to express strong ethical disapproval, e.g., 'The board was appalled by the accounting scandal.'
Academic
Used in critiques of historical actions, social conditions, or ethical breaches in research.
Everyday
Used for strong personal reactions to news, behaviour, or conditions. 'I was appalled by the mess they left.'
Technical
Not typical; would be replaced by more specific clinical or legal terms (e.g., 'traumatized', 'negligent').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The graphic report appalled the entire committee.
- She was appalled to find her name associated with the project.
American English
- The court's decision appalled civil rights advocates.
- We were appalled by the conditions in the factory.
adverb
British English
- She looked at him appalled, unable to speak.
- They watched appalled as the argument escalated.
American English
- He stared appalled at the wreckage of his car.
- She listened appalled to the voicemail.
adjective
British English
- He gave an appalled glance at the state of the kitchen.
- There was an appalled silence after the announcement.
American English
- She wore an appalled expression when she heard the news.
- The appalled audience began to boo.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I was appalled by the rude behaviour of the customer.
- They were appalled at the price of the tickets.
- The international community was appalled by the brutal crackdown on protesters.
- She was appalled to discover the extent of the plagiarism in his thesis.
- Appalled by the government's inaction, the activists began a hunger strike.
- His morally appalled treatise on modern society became a bestseller.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: APPALLED sounds like a PAL who fell into something awful - you are shocked and horrified for them.
Conceptual Metaphor
MORAL OFFENSE IS A PHYSICAL BLOW/WOUND. (e.g., 'I was appalled' - as if struck by the wrongness).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not "испуганный" (scared/frightened). Closer to "шокированный" (shocked) or "ужаснувшийся" (horrified). Beware of false friend with 'appeal' (which is a different word).
Common Mistakes
- Using it for mild surprise. Confusing with 'appealed'. Incorrect preposition: 'appalled from' (correct: 'by' or 'at').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'appalled' CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Shocked' is the most general (sudden surprise, can be positive or negative). 'Horrified' implies terror or extreme fear/disgust. 'Appalled' strongly emphasizes moral outrage, disgust, or dismay at something wrong or offensive.
No, it is exclusively negative. It describes a reaction to something deeply unpleasant, offensive, or wrong.
Both are correct and often interchangeable. 'Appalled by' is slightly more common, especially before a person or entity. 'Appalled at' is common before actions or facts (e.g., appalled at his behaviour).
The related adjective is 'appalling', which describes the thing that causes the feeling of being appalled (e.g., 'appalling conditions', 'an appalling crime').