“appalled” 表示“震惊的;骇然的;感到强烈不安或反感的”,常用于对某种行为、消息或景象的道德上的厌恶或极度惊讶。(也可指“吓坏了”,但现代用法多强调震惊与反感。)
/əˈpɔːld/
I was appalled by the rude comment.
我对那句无礼的评论感到震惊。
She was appalled to learn that the company had been dumping waste into the river for years.
得知这家公司多年来一直向河里倾倒废物,她感到非常震惊和愤怒。
来自动词 appall,源于中古法语 apaler(使恐惧、使变苍白),与“变得苍白(因恐惧或震惊)”的意象有关;后来语义扩展为“使人震惊、骇然”,尤其带有强烈反感的情绪色彩。