Appal: meaning, definitions and examples
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appal
[ əˈpɔːl ]
emotional response
To appal means to shock or dismay someone greatly. It often conveys a sense of horror or disgust at something distressing or surprising.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The news of the disaster appalled the community.
- His behavior at the party appalled his friends.
- The film was appalling in its depiction of violence.
- She was appalled by the amount of waste produced.
- The decision to close the school appalled parents.
Translations
Translations of the word "appal" in other languages:
🇵🇹 desgostar
🇮🇳 नाराज करना
🇩🇪 missfallen
🇮🇩 mengecewakan
🇺🇦 не подобатися
🇵🇱 nie podobać się
🇯🇵 気に障る
🇫🇷 déplaire
🇪🇸 desagradar
🇹🇷 hoşlanmamak
🇰🇷 마음에 안 들다
🇸🇦 يُزعج
🇨🇿 nelíbit se
🇸🇰 nepáčiť sa
🇨🇳 不喜欢
🇸🇮 ne všeč
🇮🇸 óþægilegt
🇰🇿 ұнамау
🇬🇪 არ მოგწონს
🇦🇿 bəyənməmək
🇲🇽 desagradar
Etymology
The word 'appal' comes from the Middle English 'appallen', which was derived from the Old French 'apalir', meaning to pale, or lose color, in response to fear or horror. This term itself traces back to the Latin 'pallere', which means to be pale or to grow pale, reflecting an emotional response to something distressing. The transformation from 'pallere' to 'appal' illustrates how emotions tied to fear and shock have been expressed linguistically over centuries. Initially used in contexts indicating a loss of color due to fright, 'appal' evolved to encompass broader meanings related to dismay and horror, capturing a more intense emotional reaction to distressing situations.