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Astonish vs Appall - What's the difference?

astonish | appall |

As verbs the difference between astonish and appall

is that astonish is surprise, flabbergast while appall is to depress or discourage with fear; to impress with fear in such a manner that the mind shrinks, or loses its firmness; to inundate with sudden terror or horror; to dismay.

astonish

English

Verb

(es)
  • surprise, flabbergast

    • Derived terms

    () * astonishment

    Related terms

    () * astound * astounding

    appall

    English

    Alternative forms

    * appal (occasionally in Commonwealth English)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To depress or discourage with fear; to impress with fear in such a manner that the mind shrinks, or loses its firmness; to inundate with sudden terror or horror; to dismay.
    • The sight appalled the stoutest heart.
  • * Edward Hyde Claredon
    • The house of peers was somewhat appalled at this alarum.
  • (obsolete) To make pale; to blanch.
  • * Wyatt
    • The answer that ye made to me, my dear, / Hath so appalled my countenance.
  • (obsolete) To weaken; to enfeeble; to reduce.
  • * Holland
    • Wine, of its own nature, will not congeal and freeze, only it will lose the strength, and become appalled in extremity of cold.
  • (obsolete) To grow faint; to become weak; to become dismayed or discouraged.
    • (Gower)
  • (obsolete) To lose flavour or become stale.

    • Synonyms

    * dismay, terrify, daunt, frighten, affright, scare, depress * See also