Definitions
01surprising or upsetting
B1 · Intermediate
adj. very surprising and usually upsetting or offensive.
adj. causing a feeling of intense surprise, horror, or disgust. Often used to describe news or behavior that violates social or moral expectations.
日本語:ショッキング※
“The news of the accident was truly shocking to everyone in the small town.”
“The documentary revealed shocking evidence of corruption at the highest levels of the regional government, sparking immediate public protests.”
Antonyms
02very bad
B2 · Upper Intermediate British English · Informal
adj. extremely bad or of very low quality.
adj. of an exceptionally poor standard or quality. This sense is frequently used in informal British English to express strong disapproval.
Español:horrible
“The weather during our holiday was absolutely shocking; it rained every single day.”
“The team's performance in the first half was shocking, characterized by a complete lack of coordination and several unforced errors.”
03electric shock
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Medicine Technical
n. the act of giving someone an electric shock.
n. the application of an electric current to a person or animal, often in a medical or experimental context.
日本語:電撃※
“The doctor explained that the shocking of the heart could help it beat normally again.”
“The protocol for the experiment involved the controlled shocking of nerve endings to measure the subjects' involuntary response times.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “shocking” in context.
Adjective
01. shocking and unacceptable
“The treatment of the refugees was described as both shocking and unacceptable by human rights groups.”
adj + and + adj
02. shocking to witness
“The scale of the destruction after the earthquake was shocking to witness.”
adj + infinitive
Noun
03. shocking lack of respect
“The players showed a shocking lack of respect toward the referee during the final minutes of the game.”
adj + noun + of + noun
04. shocking revelation
“The documentary made a shocking revelation about the company's environmental record.”
adj + noun
05. shocking waste of money
“Spending millions on a stadium that is never used is a shocking waste of money.”
adj + noun + of + noun
Adverb
06. find the news shocking
“Many residents found the news shocking when they heard about the sudden closure of the factory.”
verb + noun + adj
07. truly shocking
“The lack of basic medical supplies in the hospital was truly shocking.”
adv + adj
Real-World Examples
“One in six students is a shocking statistic, and the response needs to recognize this.” “It was a big moment which caused big companies to reflect on their own systems - and, in some cases, check they hadn't missed something similarly shocking.” Etymology
From shock + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/shocking
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0