appalling
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
so bad that it shocks you or makes you feel very upset.
causing dismay or horror; morally or socially shocking.
Simple“The conditions in the refugee camp were appalling and needed urgent attention.”
In context“The report revealed an appalling lack of safety standards that led directly to the industrial accident.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
extremely bad or of a very low standard.
exceptionally poor in quality or performance; used as a strong intensifier for 'bad'.
Simple“The weather during our holiday was appalling, so we stayed inside.”
In context“The team's performance in the second half was appalling, characterized by unforced errors and a complete lack of coordination.”
“The Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “London bus drivers do a vital job, but are putting themselves at risk due to these appalling conditions.”
“They kicked her and said "appalling" things to attempt to get a reaction, she said, while one headline trumpeted a picture of her apparent cellulite.”
By surface analysis, appall + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.