In this weekly post, we bring more useful content from the Macmillan Dictionary to English language learners. In this series of language tips to accompany the Real Vocabulary theme we look at how you can expand your vocabulary in English by using different words and expressions instead of core vocabulary items.
This set of language tips will explore the words and phrases we use to talk about feelings. This week’s tip looks at adjectives and phrases that mean feeling shocked:
shocked:
- We were deeply shocked to hear of his sudden death.
- The ambassador said he was shocked by the decision to expel him.
- She was shocked at the negative response to her proposal.
- He looked around at their shocked faces.
horrified extremely shocked:
- She looked horrified at his suggestion.
- I was horrified by the way the patients were treated.
- She gazed at him in horrified disbelief.
- When they heard about the incident they were absolutely horrified.
appalled extremely shocked by something, especially something you think is wrong or immoral:
- I was appalled by their behaviour.
- Local people say they are appalled at this vicious, unprovoked killing.
- There was an appalled silence.
- We were appalled that lawmakers had passed the law in the first place.
stunned so shocked you are unable to speak or react normally:
- He looked stunned as he was led away by police.
- Stunned residents wandered the streets.
- There was a stunned silence from the other end of the phone.
dazed so shocked you are unable to think clearly:
- He stared at the body, dazed and unable to move.
- She looked around in a dazed manner.
in a daze:
- For half an hour he walked around in a daze.
Did you know that Macmillan Dictionary includes a full thesaurus? This page lists more ways to say ‘shocked‘.
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