English Reference
Adjective

appalled

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /əˈpɔɫd/ UK /ɐpˈɔːld/ ap·palled

adj.feeling very shocked and angry because something is extremely bad or unfair.

adj.feeling great dismay, shock, or horror at something perceived as deeply offensive or morally wrong. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be', 'feel', or 'look'.


SIMPLE

I am appalled by the way they treat their staff.

CONTEXTUAL

The public was appalled to learn that the historic library would be demolished to make room for a parking lot.

COMPLEX

While some critics were merely disappointed by the film's lack of depth, others were genuinely appalled by its insensitive portrayal of the recent humanitarian crisis.

Usage

Typically follows a linking verb and is followed by the prepositions 'by' or 'at'.

Pitfall
I was appalling by the newsI was appalled by the news

Learners often confuse the -ed adjective (describing a feeling) with the -ing adjective (describing the thing that causes the feeling).

In a post on Facebook on Friday, the Clacton MP said Ofcom was now investigating and that he was "appalled at the way various members of my family have been treated".

BBC News· 21 Aug 2026

From appall + -ed

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated