appalling

[uh-paw-ling] /əˈpɔ lɪŋ/
adjective
1.
causing dismay or horror:
an appalling accident; an appalling lack of manners.
Origin
1810-20; appall + -ing2
Related forms
appallingly, adverb
unappalling, adjective
unappallingly, adverb

appal

[uh-pawl] /əˈpɔl/
verb (used with object), appalled, appalling.
1.
appall.

appall

[uh-pawl] /əˈpɔl/
verb (used with object)
1.
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.
Also, appal.
Origin
1275-1325; Middle English < Middle French ap(p)allir to grow or make pale, equivalent to a- a-5 + pal(l)ir in same sense; see pale1
Synonyms
horrify, daunt. See frighten.
Examples from the web for appalling
  • This statistic has appalling implications.
  • Your behaviour is appalling.
  • The real literacy rate in this country is appalling.
  • The level of knowledge and sophistication is, with all due respect, appalling.
  • It is appalling that something like this isn't on the front cover of newspapers or plastered over the airwaves.
  • Many colleges cite lack of money and poor student preparation as an excuse for appalling failure rates.
  • The lack of grammar checking is appalling.
  • As an adolescent he was afflicted with an appalling stammer, and he still struggles occasionally with its residue.
  • They make an appalling noise, but a unique one, and it's something to savor.
  • Attempts to stifle freedom of speech are an appalling reflection on the country music establishment.
British Dictionary definitions for appalling

appalling

/əˈpɔːlɪŋ/
adjective
1.
causing extreme dismay, horror, or revulsion
2.
very bad
Derived Forms
appallingly, adverb

appal

/əˈpɔːl/
verb -pals, -palling, -palled (US) -palls, -palling, -palled
1.
(transitive) to fill with horror; shock or dismay
Word Origin
C14: from Old French appalir to turn pale
Word Origin and History for appalling
adj.

1620s, present participle adjective from appall. Colloquial weakened sense of "distasteful" is attested from 1919.

appall

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.