appall

variants also appal

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb appall contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of appall are daunt, dismay, and horrify. While all these words mean "to unnerve or deter by arousing fear, apprehension, or aversion," appall implies that one is faced with that which perturbs, confounds, or shocks.

I am appalled by your behavior

When can daunt be used instead of appall?

The meanings of daunt and appall largely overlap; however, daunt suggests a cowing, disheartening, or frightening in a venture requiring courage.

a cliff that would daunt the most intrepid climber

When is it sensible to use dismay instead of appall?

The words dismay and appall can be used in similar contexts, but dismay implies that one is disconcerted and at a loss as to how to deal with something.

dismayed at the size of the job

In what contexts can horrify take the place of appall?

In some situations, the words horrify and appall are roughly equivalent. However, horrify stresses a reaction of horror or revulsion.

was horrified by such wanton cruelty

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of appall Dismay or appall you, sure, but never surprise you. Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024 That kind of appalls me to think that people need not expect that of themselves. David Marchese Photograph By Mamadi Doumbouya, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024 What appalls him now is a lack of accountability in Netanyahu’s government. David Remnick, The New Yorker, 14 Jan. 2024 Kunzig: Alejandra, the weather this year kept finding fresh ways to appall us. Susan Goldberg, National Geographic, 9 Dec. 2021 The whiteness of the fantasy village will appall some — including, presumably, those who protested Gelman’s leadership of The Wing, that women-only co-working operation whose own workforce was notoriously segregated by race. Grace Lavery, Curbed, 20 Apr. 2022 Are there some whose only aim is to appall and disturb? Mark Shanahan, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Dec. 2022 These attacks weren't meant to appall liberals; they were meant to entice conservatives. Grayson Quay, The Week, 21 July 2022 To borrow a phrase from 19th-century Parisian poets, Épater la bourgeoisie—to shock and appall the middle class. Dan Neil, WSJ, 23 June 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appall
Verb
  • Robbins’ parents were terrified that the school was using the laptop to spy on their son and other students (including their daughter Paige).
    Barry Levitt, Time, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The thought of dying without finding out what happened to her son terrifies Petrone.
    Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The greenback’s slump against other currencies has floored many on Wall Street, as did Monday’s sell-off in Treasury bonds.
    Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Insider tip: the Lake View rooms in the west wing—specifically floors three through five—deliver a prime panorama without gouging your wallet.
    Paul Jebara, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • An American Airlines flight was forced to turn back around after a disruptive passenger began to frighten other passengers on the way from New York to Milan on Tuesday, April 8, the airline said.
    Charna Flam, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone.
    Zameena Mejia, Refinery29, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • As part of their efforts, the duo are trained to simply scare the animals off and run five to seven miles daily, rain or shine.
    Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Ant scare Anthony Edwards finished with a team-high 28 points on an efficient 10-for-15 shooting from the field.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Moment Mom Realizes What 11-Year-Old Daughter Had Been Doing With Scissors By Jack Beresford Senior Life and Trends Reporter Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member news article 0 A mom was shocked to discover that her 11-year-old daughter had made some noticeable modifications to her school uniform.
    Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Another photographer told me how she was shocked by the amount of couples booking for years down the line.
    Shelby Wax, Vogue, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Vara, like many of her readers, is both enchanted by the web and disgusted with the companies that control it.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The judge, though disgusted at her antics, still stands firm in his decision to give the prosecution access to those records because the reports about the divorce are still accessible to the jury.
    Ayan Artan, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In Hartford, Nettie Parker and two friends said they were horrified by immigrants disappearing off the streets.
    Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Fierce and determined, and then uncertain and horrified by the toll this vital work takes on her personal life, Knightley is at her masterful, understated best.
    Radhika Seth, Vogue, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • A lot of the time, the people on the stage or on the show, they’re not even offended.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2025
  • That clip became so prominent in part because, the same week, Barrett offended the Trump base.
    Niall Stanage, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Appall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appall. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

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