a shocking feeling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a shocking feeling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an emotional response that is surprising or unexpected, often in a negative context. Example: "When she received the news, it left her with a shocking feeling that she couldn't shake off for days."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That feeling you had a few years before of making your debut with friends and family there and how proud they were and then the flip side of that – it was a shocking feeling.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Every time I saw a German in uniform, I had this shocking feeling of threat.

The Guardian

But as soon as Lewis was born, I had this overwhelming and shocking feeling that he wasn't mine.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I've been with my boyfriend for nearly a year, and a few months ago he told me he has intense and (to him) shocking feelings that he may be gay.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"When we were talking about what she wanted her images to represent, she said: 'This is a shocking very lost feeling, and realities must faced.

Huffington Post

The Israeli embassy said Mr Ward's comments demonstrated a "shocking insensitivity to the feelings of both Holocaust survivors and Israeli victims of terrorism".

BBC

"It was a shocking decision, absolutely shocking.

The Guardian - Sport

I think the willingness to be candid and open is critical, so I try to probe for people to get beyond the niceties and tell me something that they might not tell somebody else, or to tell me something that might be a little bit shocking and feeling that that's O.K. to do that.

The New York Times

And when something as significant as that is in play, interactions that demonstrate a shocking lack of respect for it can leave you feeling hopeless and dejected.

HuffPost

Plath's fierce interrogation of herself and her feelings, and her unflinching honesty, came as a shocking revelation to poetry readers in the mid-1960s.

The Guardian - Books

I had a feeling of kissing a skeleton, and in that sense it was a shocking experience".

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a "shocking feeling", provide context to clarify the intensity and nature of the surprise. Use descriptive language to help readers understand the emotional impact.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on the phrase "shocking feeling" to describe intense emotions. Vary your language with more specific and nuanced descriptors, such as "profound disappointment" or "utter disbelief", to create a stronger impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a shocking feeling" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "shocking" modifies the noun "feeling". It typically serves to describe the unexpected and intense nature of an emotional experience. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Academia

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a shocking feeling" effectively communicates an unexpected and intense emotional experience. Ludwig's analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usability. While versatile across various contexts, it's most prevalent in News & Media. To enhance writing, consider providing context to amplify its impact. Ludwig AI analysis highlights that the phrase is appropriate for a variety of contexts, but careful consideration of word choice can prevent overuse. Using more descriptive alternatives could provide additional nuance and clarity in expressing such an intense emotion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an astounding sensation

Replaces "shocking" with "astounding" while retaining the noun "sensation", focusing on amazement.

a startling emotion

Substitutes "feeling" with "emotion" and "shocking" with "startling", emphasizing suddenness.

a profound sense of surprise

Uses "profound sense" to amplify the intensity, changing "shocking feeling" to explicit "surprise".

an overwhelming emotion

Replaces "shocking" with "overwhelming" to emphasize the intensity of the feeling.

an unexpected revelation

Focuses on the revealing aspect of the feeling, swapping "feeling" for "revelation" and using "unexpected".

a disquieting experience

Shifts focus to the experiential aspect, changing "feeling" to "experience" and using "disquieting" to indicate unease.

a remarkable sensation

Replaces "shocking" with "remarkable", suggesting the feeling is notable or extraordinary.

a surprising sentiment

Substitutes "feeling" with "sentiment" and "shocking" with "surprising", highlighting the unexpected nature.

a bewildering experience

Emphasizes confusion caused by the feeling, using "bewildering" instead of "shocking".

a stunning realization

Implies the feeling is a sudden understanding, replacing "feeling" with "realization" and using "stunning".

FAQs

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

You can use "a shocking feeling" to describe an unexpected and intense emotional reaction. For example, "The news of the sudden closure of the company left her with a shocking feeling of uncertainty".

What can I say instead of "a shocking feeling"?

You can use alternatives like "an astounding sensation", "a startling emotion", or "a profound sense of surprise" depending on the specific context.

Is "a shocking feeling" grammatically correct?

Yes, "a shocking feeling" is grammatically correct. It uses an adjective ("shocking") to modify a noun ("feeling").

What's the difference between "a shocking feeling" and "a terrible feeling"?

"A shocking feeling" implies surprise or disbelief, while "a terrible feeling" describes a general sense of distress or discomfort. While both are negative, the first emphasizes the unexpected nature of the emotion, while the second emphasizes the unpleasantness.