shocking

1. 1
   adjective

   Very surprising in a way that upsets or scares people.

   The shocking news about the fire made everyone go quiet.

   It was shocking to see how much the town had changed.

   Similarstartling, appalling, horrifying, disturbing, staggering

   Oppositeunsurprising

2. 2
   adjective

   Very rude about sex, in a way that upsets most people.

   The comedian told shocking jokes about sex, and some people walked out.

   Mom turned off the movie during a shocking scene where the actors had no clothes on.

   Similarobscene, lewd, indecent, scandalous

   Oppositedecent, tame

3. 3
   adjectivecolloquial

   Very bad, much worse than you would expect.

   The food at that restaurant was shocking, so we never went back.

   Her room was in a shocking state, with clothes all over the floor.

   Similarterrible, awful, dreadful, appalling, atrocious

   Oppositeexcellent, great, superb

   Note
4. 4
   verb

   Present participle and gerund of shock. Use it after 'is' or 'was', or as a noun for the action.

   The loud bangs kept shocking the baby awake.

   Shocking your friends with scary stories can be fun at a sleepover.

   Note
5. 5
   noununcountable

   The act of giving an electric shock to a person, animal, or thing.

   The new rules ban the shocking of dogs with electric collars.

   After the shocking, the fish floated up so the scientists could count them.

   Note

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