Shockingly Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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shockingly

[หˆสƒษ‘หkษชล‹lษช ]

Definition

Context #1 | Adverb

incredibly surprising

In a shocking manner; amazingly

Synonyms

amazingly, astonishingly, surprisingly.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
shockingly

This word often carries a negative connotation and is used when something causes a strong sense of shock, disbelief, or outrage.

  • The company shockingly laid off half of its workforce
surprisingly

This word is used when something happens that is unexpected or different from what was anticipated. It is generally neutral.

  • Surprisingly, the quiet student gave the best presentation in the class
amazingly

This word is used when something is unexpectedly good or impressive. It has a positive connotation.

  • She ran the marathon amazingly fast for her age
astonishingly

This word is appropriate when something is so surprising that it is hard to believe. It can have both positive and negative connotations.

  • Astonishingly, he solved the complex puzzle in under a minute

Examples of usage

  • She was shockingly beautiful.
  • The results were shockingly bad.
  • He behaved shockingly towards his colleagues.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Pop Culture

  • Many movies and TV shows use shocking moments to grab the audienceโ€™s attention, keeping them on the edge of their seats.
  • Musical artists like Billie Eilish often shock audiences with unexpected lyrics or performances that challenge norms.

Psychology

  • Humans have a natural response to shocking events, often resulting in heightened alertness and emotional reactions.
  • Research indicates that shocking news can lead to a phenomenon called 'emotional numbing,' where individuals struggle to process their feelings.

Literature

  • Authors sometimes use shocking twists in stories to provoke strong emotional reactions and engage readers.
  • Classic works, like Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein', incorporate shock to explore themes of morality and humanity.

Science

  • In physics, 'shock waves' are powerful disturbances that travel through a medium, often caused by explosions or sonic booms.
  • Certain medical procedures refer to 'shock' in terms of treatment, like defibrillation to revive someone having a heart-related event.

Origin of 'shockingly'

Main points about word origin

  • The word 'shock', from Latin 'socare', originally meant to collide or jolt, which reflects its current meaning of being disturbed.
  • The suffix '-ingly' is used to form adverbs, showing how something is done, like in 'shockingly'.

The word 'shockingly' is derived from the verb 'shock', which dates back to the late 16th century. The adverb form 'shockingly' started being used in the early 19th century to describe something that is incredibly surprising or astonishing. It has since become a common adverb used to emphasize the unexpected or remarkable nature of something.


See also: shock, shocked, shocker, shocking, shocks.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,960, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.