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Definition of appall verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

 

appall

 verb
verb
NAmE//əˈpɔl//
 
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they appall he / she / it appalls past simple appalled -ing form appalling
 
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to shock someone very much synonym horrify Thesaurusshock
  • appall
  • horrify
  • disgust
  • sicken
  • repulse
These words all mean to surprise and upset someone very much.
  • shock [often passive] to surprise someone, usually in a way that upsets them:We were all shocked at the news of his death.
  • appall to shock and upset someone very much:I was appalled at the way she spoke to her mother.
  • horrify to make someone feel extremely shocked, upset, or frightened:The whole country was horrified by the kidnapping.
  • disgust to make someone feel shocked and almost ill because something is so unpleasant:The level of violence in the movie really disgusted me.
  • sicken to make someone feel very shocked, angry, and almost ill because something is so unpleasant:I was sickened by the lack of concern for the child's welfare.
  • repulse [often passive] (somewhat formal) to make someone feel disgust or strong dislike:I was repulsed by the smell of liquor on his breath.
Patterns
  • shocked/appalled/horrified/disgusted/repulsed at somebody/something
  • to shock/appall/horrify/disgust somebody that…
  • to shock/appall/horrify/disgust/sicken somebody to think/see/hear…
  • somebody's behavior shocks/appalls somebody
  • violence/an idea shocks/appalls/horrifies/disgusts somebody
 appall somebody The brutality of the crime appalled the public. The idea of sharing a room appalled her. The thought of having to do it all again appalls me. it appalls somebody that…/to do something It appalled me that they could simply ignore the problem. Thesaurusshock
  • appall
  • horrify
  • disgust
  • sicken
  • repulse
These words all mean to surprise and upset someone very much.
  • shock [often passive] to surprise someone, usually in a way that upsets them:We were all shocked at the news of his death.
  • appall to shock and upset someone very much:I was appalled at the way she spoke to her mother.
  • horrify to make someone feel extremely shocked, upset, or frightened:The whole country was horrified by the kidnapping.
  • disgust to make someone feel shocked and almost ill because something is so unpleasant:The level of violence in the movie really disgusted me.
  • sicken to make someone feel very shocked, angry, and almost ill because something is so unpleasant:I was sickened by the lack of concern for the child's welfare.
  • repulse [often passive] (somewhat formal) to make someone feel disgust or strong dislike:I was repulsed by the smell of liquor on his breath.
Patterns
  • shocked/appalled/horrified/disgusted/repulsed at somebody/something
  • to shock/appall/horrify/disgust somebody that…
  • to shock/appall/horrify/disgust/sicken somebody to think/see/hear…
  • somebody's behavior shocks/appalls somebody
  • violence/an idea shocks/appalls/horrifies/disgusts somebody
Check pronunciation: appall

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