appalling

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/əˈpɔː.lɪŋ/
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Causing horror and moral outrage at the stronger end, or simply very bad in informal use — in both cases conveying strong disapproval or distress.
Practice using appalling in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • The appalling violence of the attack left the community in shock.
  • The documentary exposed appalling treatment of animals on farms.
  • She described the appalling conditions refugees face at the border.
  • We were shocked by the appalling lack of safety measures.
  • I've been having an appalling week at work.

Similar words

ghastly
dreadful
abysmal
monstrous
poor
disgraceful
awful
wretched
outrageous
shocking

Meanings

Causing horror or moral outrage

adjective
everyday
neutral
So shockingly bad, cruel, or wrong as to cause horror, dismay, or moral revulsion.

Examples

  • The conditions in the prison were appalling.
  • The documentary exposed appalling treatment of animals on farms.
  • We were shocked by the appalling lack of safety measures.
  • The appalling violence of the attack left the community in shock.
  • She described the appalling conditions refugees face at the border.

Similar words

horrifying
shocking
atrocious
outrageous
monstrous
disgraceful
dreadful
ghastly

Simply very bad or terrible

adjective
everyday
informal
In informal use, very bad or of very poor quality, without necessarily implying genuine moral horror.

Examples

  • She gave an appalling performance that left the audience silent.
  • He made an appalling mistake during the final exam.
  • The weather during our holiday was appalling.
  • The food at the hotel was absolutely appalling.
  • I've been having an appalling week at work.

Similar words

terrible
dreadful
awful
dire
abysmal
poor
wretched

Etymology

Present-participle adjective of appall (British appal), from Middle English appallen ('to make pale, lose colour'), via Old French apalir ('to make pale'), from a- ('to') and palir ('to grow pale'), from Latin pallēre ('to be pale'). The original sense was literal paleness caused by fear or shock. The shift to 'causing horror or dismay' happened in English by the 17th century (first recorded as an adjective in the 1620s). A weakened colloquial sense of 'very bad, distasteful' is attested from 1919.

FAQ

What does appalling mean?

Appalling means shockingly bad or horrifying. At its strongest, it describes something that causes genuine moral outrage: 'appalling cruelty'. In informal everyday speech it can mean simply very bad: 'appalling weather'.

What is the difference between appalling and terrible?

Both mean very bad, but appalling is stronger and implies shock or moral outrage. Terrible is more general. 'Appalling conditions' suggests they are not just bad but horrifying; 'terrible conditions' is strong but less charged.

What is the adverb form of appalling?

The adverb is appallingly: 'appallingly bad', 'appallingly cruel'.

What is the verb form of appalling?

The verb is appall (American English) or appal (British English): 'the conditions appalled investigators'. Appalling is the present participle used as an adjective.

What is the origin of the word appalling?

Appalling comes from the verb appall, from Old French apalir ('to make pale'), from Latin pallere ('to be pale'). The original sense was literal paleness caused by fear. The meaning shifted to 'causing horror or dismay' by the 17th century.

Comments & contributions

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Trusty Pangolin
Jul 12
I wouldnt use it as the adjective for a number in a stats report. "The poll has an appalling margin of error" is understandable, but it sounds like youre angry about the poll. For the margin itself, large or high is the boring normal word.
1
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Contribution
Eager Pangolin
Jun 23
In the US this word feels heavier to me than it does from a lot of British ppl. A Brit saying "the train service is appalling" can just mean really bad, but from an American it often sounds more formal, like a newspaper line about prison conditions.
4
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Snappy Skylark
Jul 2
yeah, in Britain my mum says it about weather and council services all the time, no moral horror intended
1
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