Appall


to fill or overcome with horror, consternation, or fear; dismay:
He was appalled by the damage from the fire. I am appalled at your mistakes.
Contemporary Examples

The dark vision at the heart of The Casual Vacancy may appall you, but it is not easily dismissed.
‘The Casual Vacancy’ Review: J.K. Rowling Cuts Loose From Harry Potter Malcolm Jones September 26, 2012

Historical Examples

What marvel that love should make him weak whom death could not appall!
Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, Vol IV. No. XX. January, 1852. Various

The scene before them was enough to appall the stoutest heart.
The River of Darkness William Murray Graydon

The uncompromising coldness and solidity of the viands was enough to appall a man conscious that his digestion needed humoring.
Love Among the Chickens P. G. Wodehouse

This Actio Prima contains the words in which he did appall the judges.
Life of Cicero Anthony Trollope

On the other side, there was a man whom no danger could appall.
History of the United Netherlands, 1584-86, Vol. I. (of IV) Complete John Lothrop Motley

The body, as a body, was of such a nature that he found it necessary to appall them.
Life of Cicero Anthony Trollope

The cloud crowned cliff did not appall my high-reaching eye.
Ernest Linwood Caroline Lee Hentz

This was a consideration that pressed itself in twenty different forms, each of them enough to appall him.
The Daltons, Volume I (of II) Charles James Lever

Nothing seemed to appall or disturb my partner; he was always ready to proceed, his voice ringing out with inflexible resolution.
The Trail of the Goldseekers Hamlin Garland

v.

also appal, early 14c., “to fade;” c.1400, “to grow pale,” from Old French apalir “become or make pale,” from a- “to” (see ad-) + palir “grow pale,” from Latin pallere (see pallor). Meaning “cause dismay or shock,” is 1530s. Related: Appalled; appalling.

Read Also:

  • Appalling

    causing dismay or horror: an appalling accident; an appalling lack of manners. . to fill or overcome with horror, consternation, or fear; dismay: He was appalled by the damage from the fire. I am appalled at your mistakes. Contemporary Examples “I want to show people that climbing does not have to be an appalling, suicidal […]

  • Appalled

    . to fill or overcome with horror, consternation, or fear; dismay: He was appalled by the damage from the fire. I am appalled at your mistakes. Contemporary Examples I am appalled by the notion of groups being scrutinized by the IRS for their ideological views. Stop Calling Obama Aloof! Paul Begala May 19, 2013 It […]

  • Appallingly

    causing dismay or horror: an appalling accident; an appalling lack of manners. Contemporary Examples When my father approached, he saw that both looked “appallingly young.” My Father, The Inglourious Basterd Kim Masters August 8, 2009 His course managed to be both dreadfully dull and appallingly difficult, with few light moments. Stonewall Jackson, VMI’s Most Embattled […]

  • Appaloosa

    one of a hardy breed of riding horses, developed in the North American West, having a mottled hide, vertically striped hoofs, and eyes that show a relatively large proportion of white. noun a breed of horse, originally from America, typically having a spotted rump breed of horses favored by Indian tribes in U.S. West, 1849, […]

  • Appanage

    land or some other source of revenue assigned for the maintenance of a member of the family of a ruling house. whatever belongs rightfully or appropriately to one’s rank or station in life. a natural or necessary accompaniment; adjunct. Historical Examples It was enough for him that an appanage of Royalty had said that some […]


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