shock value
noun
: usefulness to surprise and usually upset people
He uses offensive language for (its) shock value.
Examples of shock value in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
His channel is known for its unique challenges, which include things ranging from building the world's largest Lego tower to being buried alive for 50 hours, and his substantial earnings have allowed for his videos to increase in production quality and shock value over time.
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Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
The most startling aspect of Terrifier 3 is that the brutality has no firm meaning beyond the immediacy of its shock value.
—Eric Kohn, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Jan. 2025
In all of its shock value, some of the aforementioned treatment in earlier stages of his career was due to his horrorcore approach to alternative Hip-Hop and seemingly offensive lyrics including rhymes about rape and murder.
—Jason Chandler, VIBE.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Corrective information, such as reports pointing out the math fumble in the black spatula study, has less shock value and tends to get lost in the torrent of news around the initial scare.
—F.d. Flam, The Mercury News, 4 Jan. 2025
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Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
The most startling aspect of Terrifier 3 is that the brutality has no firm meaning beyond the immediacy of its shock value.
—Eric Kohn, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Jan. 2025
In all of its shock value, some of the aforementioned treatment in earlier stages of his career was due to his horrorcore approach to alternative Hip-Hop and seemingly offensive lyrics including rhymes about rape and murder.
—Jason Chandler, VIBE.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Corrective information, such as reports pointing out the math fumble in the black spatula study, has less shock value and tends to get lost in the torrent of news around the initial scare.
—F.d. Flam, The Mercury News, 4 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for shock value
Dictionary Entries Near shock value
Cite this Entry
“Shock value.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shock%20value. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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