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shocking
/ˈʃɒkɪŋ/
extremely surprising
general
causing intense surprise or dismay
The news of the accident was shocking.
The accident news was very surprising.
She wore a shocking pink dress to the party.
Her dress was an extremely bright pink.
Often implies emotional impact beyond mere surprise.
informal
offensive or morally outrageous
The movie's language was shocking.
The movie used very offensive language.
Used to describe content that violates social norms.
Collocations
shocking newsvery surprising informationshocking behavioroutrageous actionsshocking pinkbright pink color
Pro Tip
Avoid overuse
While 'shocking' is versatile, it loses impact if used too frequently. Reserve it for truly surprising moments.
Gold Rule
Context matters
Use 'shocking' for emotional reactions. For physical impact, 'shocking' is incorrect—use 'shocked' or 'jarring'.
Word Origin
From 'shock' (noun, meaning sudden impact) + '-ing' (suffix forming adjectives). First recorded in the 18th century.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in media to describe both positive and negative surprises. Can be intensified with 'absolutely' or 'truly'.
Word Breakdown
shock
sudden impact or disturbance
root-ing
forming an adjective
suffixEnglish Dictionary