appall — to shock or dismay someone greatly
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to shock or dismay someone greatly
Pronunciation (IPA): /əˈpɔːl/
Example Sentences
- The amount of food waste at the buffet appalled the environmental activist.
- My cooking skills are so bad that even my own dog is appalled when I enter the kitchen.
- She was appalled to discover her roommate had been using her toothbrush for three months.
appall
VERB[/əˈpɔːl/]
to shock or dismay someone greatly

The crime scene photos appall the rookie detective on her very first day.

Seeing the destroyed kitchen made the chef's face go pale and appalled him. (AP(to) + PALL(pale))

Watching the chandelier fall made the terrified guests appalled.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Old French 'apallir' meaning 'to make pale,' derived from 'a-' (to) + 'pallir' (to become pale), which comes from Latin 'pallidus' meaning 'pale.' The sense evolved from 'making pale' to 'shocking or dismaying' someone.
Breakdown
ap- (to) + pall (from Latin pallidus, pale) + -en (to make/become) = appall (to shock or make pale with fear/dismay)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The amount of food waste at the buffet appalled the environmental activist.”
“My cooking skills are so bad that even my own dog is appalled when I enter the kitchen.”
“She was appalled to discover her roommate had been using her toothbrush for three months.”
“The corruption scandal appalled voters across the nation.”
📚Related Words
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