appal v 1: strike with disgust or revulsion; "The scandalous behavior of this married woman shocked her friends" [syn: {shock}, {offend}, {scandalize}, {scandalise}, {appal}, {appall}, {outrage}] 2: fill with apprehension or alarm; cause to be unpleasantly surprised; "I was horrified at the thought of being late for my interview"; "The news of the executions horrified us" [syn: {dismay}, {alarm}, {appal}, {appall}, {horrify}]