Looks shocking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Looks shocking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express surprise or disapproval regarding something that is visually or contextually unexpected or disturbing. Example: "The final results of the experiment look shocking, and we need to investigate further."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Dad looks shocking.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A few years later, Kinsey is denouncing the marriage manuals of the time as moralistic nonsense — they don't even get the anatomy right — and at Indiana, in the forties, he starts giving sex-instruction lectures, illustrating them with a slide show of genitalia which shocks his students (it still looks shocking to us).

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Logan looks shocked.

The New Yorker

Olive looks shocked.

Independent

Ariela looks shocked.

The Guardian

He looks shocked.

The Guardian - Music

Rhythms slow; she looks shocked.

The New Yorker

He looks shocked, a little bit sad.

The Guardian - Music

Player looks shocked when ball is caught.

The New York Times - Sports

She looks shocked and coquettish at the same time.

The Guardian - Film

But he looks shocked when I ask if he'd swap theatre for film.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Looks shocking" to express a strong, often negative, reaction to something visually apparent. Ensure the context makes it clear what is causing the shock.

Common error

Avoid overusing "Looks shocking" in situations where milder surprise or disapproval is more appropriate. Reserve it for genuinely startling or disturbing scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Looks shocking" primarily functions as a descriptive expression indicating a strong, often negative, visual impression. Ludwig AI indicates that it is used to describe something unexpected or disturbing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "Looks shocking" is used to describe something that appears unexpectedly disturbing or appalling. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts and conveys a strong, often negative, visual impression. When writing, ensure you intend to express something genuinely startling. Consider alternatives such as "looks terrible" or "appears appalling" to fine-tune the intensity and formality of your statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Looks terrible

A more common and direct way to express something looks very bad.

Looks disturbing

Highlights the unsettling or disquieting visual aspect.

Looks alarming

Emphasizes the potential danger or risk associated with what is seen.

Seems dreadful

Highlights the negative or unpleasant nature of something.

Seems unbelievable

Focuses on the incredibility of what is being observed.

Appears appalling

Uses a more formal term to describe something causing dismay.

Appears scandalous

Emphasizes the morally offensive nature of something.

Appears outrageous

Indicates a strong sense of offense or indignation.

Seems unbelievable

Focuses on the incredibility of what is being observed.

Seems astonishing

Emphasizes surprise and wonder, potentially with a negative connotation.

FAQs

How can I use "Looks shocking" in a sentence?

You can use "Looks shocking" to express surprise or disbelief regarding something that is visually unexpected or disturbing. For example, "The data breach "looks shocking", and we need to investigate immediately."

What can I say instead of "Looks shocking"?

You can use alternatives like "seems dreadful", "looks terrible", or "appears appalling" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "Looks shocking"?

It's appropriate when you want to convey a strong sense of surprise, dismay, or disbelief at something visually apparent. It implies a negative impact or implication.

What's the difference between "Looks shocking" and "seems surprising"?

"Looks shocking" implies a stronger, often negative, reaction than "seems surprising". Shocking suggests something is disturbing or appalling, while surprising simply means unexpected.