appallingap‧pal‧ling /əˈpɔːlɪŋ $ əˈpɒː-/ ●○○ adjective 
She suffered appalling injuries. He was kept in appalling conditions in prison. an appalling famine2very bad SYN atrocious: The weather was absolutely appalling.► see thesaurus at bad—appallingly adverb: He behaved appallingly. an appallingly difficult job
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- the city's appalling pollution
- The standard American diet is appalling in its lack of imagination.
- Animals were neglected and lived in appalling conditions.
- But emotionally he was pitiful, held to ransom by an appalling wife.
- I must admit my diet has been appalling.
- Not only are aitches dropped, appalling vocals now reign virtually supreme in the realm of pronunciation.
- People stop having children when the future they face is too appalling.
- The promises no longer have any substance for them, but that appalling fact has not penetrated their minds.
- The weekend press was again appalling.
THESAURUS
(also dreadful especially British English) very bad: · The journey was terrible – it took six hours.· The food was good but we had terrible service.· It’s such an awful programme! How can you watch it?· He looked dreadful.
very bad and unpleasant – used especially when something has a strong effect on you and you feel shocked, annoyed, or sick: · This soup tastes horrible.· I got a horrible shock when I saw the bill.· a horrible accident· a horrible thing to say to someone
terrible – especially in a way that is shocking. Appalling is stronger and a little more formal than terrible or horrible: · The refugees are living in appalling conditions.· The teacher said my handwriting was appalling.
terrible – used about a taste, smell, habit etc, often one that makes you feel sick: · The smell was disgusting and I had to go out.· Do you have to bite your nails? It’s a disgusting habit.
informal terrible – used especially to express annoyance: · I’ve had a lousy day at the office.· This area is a lousy place to live.
very bad and difficult – used when there is no chance of success or improvement: · We were trying to pay off our debts but it was a hopeless situation.· He was given the almost hopeless task of trying to negotiate a ceasefire.
British English extremely bad – used to express great disapproval of an action or event: · The prices are diabolical.· a diabolical waste of money· McAndrew gave a diabolical performance on Saturday.
very bad especially British English very bad: · The movie was awful.· Her house is in a terrible state.· a dreadful crime
very bad, especially in a way that shocks or upsets you: · He describes prison as ‘a horrible place’.· It was a horrible experience.
smelling or tasting very bad: · The food was disgusting.· The fish smelled disgusting.
informal very bad or disappointing: · The weather has been lousy all week.· I’m fed up with this lousy job.
British English informal very bad: · I’ve had a ghastly day.· a ghastly mistake
severe problems, injuries, illnesses etc are very bad and serious: · The country faces severe economic problems.· severe delays· He suffered severe head injuries in a car crash.
extremely bad in a way that is shocking: · Her behaviour has been absolutely atrocious.· The country has an appalling human rights record.
very bad and of a very low standard: · The team’s performance was abysmal.· the abysmal conditions in some prisons
Longman Language Activatorbad events/experiences/weather etc not at all pleasant, enjoyable, or successful: · If the weather's bad, we could go to the museum instead.· bad housing conditionsbad news (=news of a bad event): · I'm afraid I have some bad news.a bad day/year/time etc (=when a lot of unpleasant things happen): · This was a very bad year for the banking industry.· It had been a bad day, and I just wanted to go home.
very bad: · The weather has been terrible lately.· Traffic in the downtown Boston area is awful.· Conditions in the hospital were dreadful. The place was falling apart and it was understaffed.
so bad that you are shocked: · Living conditions in the refugee camps were atrocious.· The appalling weather continued, with harsh winds, fogs and heavy rain.
extremely bad, unpleasant, and often frightening: · It was a horrendous storm.· She is still recovering from a horrendous car accident.
extremely bad, especially in a way that is frightening or upsetting: · It was a horrific experience. We really thought we were going to die.· The race was stopped after a horrific accident in which two drivers were killed.
spoken informal use this to talk about an extremely bad experience or situation: · The traffic coming in to work this morning was a nightmare.· The President's trip turned out to be a nightmare for his security staff.be a complete nightmare: · Our vacation was a complete nightmare. The weather was awful and our hotel was worse.
bad films/books/methods/food etc something that is bad is of a low standard, because it has been done badly, designed badly, performed badly etc: · The movie was so bad that we left before it finished.· It's the worst book she's ever written.· Opponents of the plan say it is a bad way of managing city traffic.· In the 1980s, their cars had a bad reputation for reliability.· Their latest album is even worse than their last one.
spoken not good at all: · I wouldn't go there - the food's no good.· I've tried that diet, and it's no good.
very bad: · That's such an awful programme! How can you watch it?· Your handwriting is appalling.· The food was lousy and the service was terrible.
especially British very bad: · The coffee tasted dreadful!· "How did you like the film?'' "I thought it was dreadful.''
British informal /garbage especially American use this to describe something you think is very bad: · "What did you think of his speech?'' "I thought it was rubbish!''· Most of the food in these fast food joints is garbage.a load of rubbish/garbage: · I don't know why you're watching that film, it's a load of old rubbish.· I've never read such a load of garbage in my life.
informal use this to describe something you think is very bad -- some people think this word is offensive: · There's nothing but crap on television these days.· The stereo's great but the rest of the car is crap.a load of crap: · Someone told me it was a really interesting museum, but I thought it was a load of crap.
especially American, informal if you say that something sucks , you think it is very bad -- some people think this word is offensive: · Let's not go there -- the food sucks.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The weather was absolutely appalling.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1very unpleasant and shocking SYN terrible: The weather was absolutely appalling. (=very bad)· Some of the animals were being kept in appalling conditions.
· a horrific crash in which three teenage boys were killed
(=very unpleasant and shocking)· This is an appalling tragedy which will haunt us for the rest of our lives.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· At any one time there were three hundred people patiently waiting in the most appalling weather.· Many of the girls come from the most appalling backgrounds of abuse and violence and approximately 60% are addicted to drugs.· He came the most appalling cropper.· Her solicitor says it's the most appalling accident he's ever had to deal with.· That was the most appalling display she's offered up for years.· After 10 minutes or so we both got the most appalling horrors.
· However, the August fishing became so appalling that my companion and I decided to try a week in May.· But the hard labour for criminals which replaced judicial execution was so appalling that it was in effect a living death.· And it was so appalling that it had a genuine effect on public opinion.· It is said that the stench is so appalling that no one can go near them now.· Many were so appalling that even Himmler had been known to walk out of the showings, sick to the stomach.· Conditions in Evin have been so appalling that three women prisoners committed suicide in December.· Only one person died, so appalling financial loss was tempered by human deliverance.
NOUN· Why have they such an appalling record when ready-made Bills are presented to them by the Law Commission?
· The sum was raised at a model aircraft flying display that was all but washed out through appalling weather.· At any one time there were three hundred people patiently waiting in the most appalling weather.
She suffered appalling injuries. He was kept in appalling conditions in prison. an appalling famine2very bad SYN atrocious: The weather was absolutely appalling.► see thesaurus at bad—appallingly adverb: He behaved appallingly. an appallingly difficult job