aghast

/əˈɡɑːst/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈɡæst/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈgast/ (ame, mw)

aghast — adjective

  • aghastpositive
  • more aghastcomparative
  • most aghastsuperlative

1. so shocked, frightened, or deeply upset by a terrible event or piece of news tha

1.形容詞C1
釋義

so shocked, frightened, or deeply upset by a terrible event or piece of news that you can hardly react normally.

例句

Padma looked aghast when the waiter dropped soup onto her new coat.

look aghast + when-clause (instant reaction)

Joon stood aghast at the damage inside his grandmother's shop.

stand aghast + at [shocking sight]

同義詞
  • shocked

    more general and common, with less emphasis on fear

  • horrified

    stronger and often adds disgust or moral fear

  • appalled

    focuses more on moral disapproval than sudden fright

反義詞
  • unfazed

    not visibly upset or shocked by what happened

  • calm

    remaining steady instead of reacting with alarm

文法句型

be aghast at

look aghast

stand aghast

用法筆記

Usually follows linking verbs such as 'be', 'look', or 'stand', and is often followed by 'at' when naming the shocking thing. It suggests both shock and fear, not simple surprise.

常見錯誤

❌The news was aghast.
✅We were aghast at the news.
💡'Aghast' describes the people who feel the shock, not the event that causes it.