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Definitions

appalled

[uh-pawld] / əˈpɔld /






Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for appalled?
Some of the closest synonyms for appalled are dismayed and disgusted. Dismayed implies a sense of sadness or disappointment about something that has happened. Appalled implies not sadness but extreme distaste or disgust, and the same thing is implied by disgusted. Appalled also often implies a sense of shock or surprise. In fact, appalled is often used alongside the word shocked, as in We were shocked and appalled.  Shocked implies extreme surprise, but it can be positive or negative. Appalled is always negative—it’s a combination of surprise (about how bad something is) and outrage.
What is a stronger word for appalled?
Appalled is a pretty strong word. Disgusted is similarly strong, though it may imply an even stronger revulsion for what has happened.
What’s worse than appalled?
Saying that you’re appalled by someone’s behavior is about the strongest way you can say that. To further emphasize disapproval, someone might use several similar words, as in We are shocked, appalled, saddened, and disgusted by this display of violence.
What is the opposite (antonym) of appalled?
Appalled doesn’t necessarily have an exact opposite. When you’re appalled about something, you’re shocked about it in a bad way (because you feel disgust or dismay about it). In this way, feeling positive about something could be considered the opposite of being appalled. Words that capture this idea include reassured, delighted, encouraged, and comforted, as in We were reassured by the results of the survey. 
How do you spell appalled?
The adjective appalled comes from the past tense of the verb appall, so it’s always spelled with two L’s. (In British English, appall is sometimes spelled appal, but even its past tense is spelled appalled.)

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

First Minister John Swinney dismissed calls for a Holyrood inquiry into the case during FMQs on Thursday, but said he was "appalled" by Murrell's conduct.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

I was only 16 but shocked, appalled, saddened and angry, all simultaneously.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

Silverman, the CAA's director of investigations and enforcement, said many Jews had reacted "with shock and they were appalled" by the festival's decision to book West.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

In a story in “Ladies’ Lunch,” an old woman, disheveled after an outing, looks in a mirror and sees “what Diane Arbus might have seen. She gazed, appalled, and being appalled pricked her interest.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

But then, appalled, I see Mr. Reilly pulling the clamshell box toward himself.

From "Landscape with Invisible Hand" by M.T. Anderson




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