Cool MateShocking
UK /["/ˈʃɒkɪŋ/"]/US /["/ˈʃɑːkɪŋ/"]/
Definition
that offends or upsets people; that is morally wrong
In simple words: Very surprising or upsetting.
Examples
- shocking behaviour
- shocking news
- It is shocking that they involved children in the crime.
- a shocking waste of money
- a deeply shocking and painful discovery
- Today we reveal the shocking truth about heroin addiction among the young.
- The house was left in a shocking state.
Usage notes
Use 'shocking' to describe something that causes strong emotions. More common in neutral contexts; avoid overuse in casual conversations.
Grammar pattern
standalone adjective
Memory hint
Think of a 'shock' like a sudden jolt, like when you touch a battery.
Collocations
- be
- seem
- sound
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- to
Synonyms
- astonishing
- astonishing
- startling
- appalling
- stunning
Antonyms
- expected
- predictable
- normal
Common mistakes
- Confused with 'shocked' which describes a feeling.
- Used interchangeably with 'surprising', ignoring emotional weight.
- Misused in contexts that are not serious enough.