Shocking
Shocking adjective - Causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness.
Usage example: we all clustered around to hear the shocking news of our colleague's sudden death
Upsetting and shocking are semantically related. in appalling topic. In some cases you can use "Upsetting" instead an adjective "Shocking".
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- disturbing and shocking
- disturbing and upsetting
- unpleasant and shocking
- unpleasant and upsetting
- offensive and shocking
- offensive and upsetting
- nasty and shocking
- nasty and upsetting
- grievous and shocking
- grievous and upsetting
- abominable and shocking
- abominable and upsetting
- bad and shocking
- bad and upsetting
Both words in one sentence
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While it is a very shocking and upsetting development, the line "SORRY I GAVE YOUR UNIVERSE CANCER" has been met with laughter and many distasteful cancer jokes.
Source: Narm / Web Comics
Cite this Source
Upsetting and Shocking. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/shocking/upsetting
Shocking & Upsetting. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/shocking/upsetting>.
Upsetting or Shocking. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/shocking/upsetting.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "shocking" and "upsetting" have occurred on timeline