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YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

appal

Verb

IPA /əˈpɔːl/

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Meaning in plain English

To shock someone deeply because something is very bad.

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Pronunciation

appal/əˈpɔːl/

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  1. Rubbish covers the beach

  2. This is shocking!

A badly littered beach may appal visitors because it is so upsetting.

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  1. The amount of rubbish left on the beach appalled us.
  2. The careless treatment of personal data appalled the manager.

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To shock someone deeply because something is very bad.
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appal — To shock someone deeply because something is very bad.

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To shock someone deeply because something is very bad.

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Word origin

From Old French apalir, meaning to grow pale, later associated with horror.

Did you know?

British appal becomes appalled and appalling, with two l's in those forms.

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appal

/əˈpɔːl/ (Verb)

“Appal is British spelling; appall is American. Use appalled for the person who feels shocked.”

englishskillstudio.com