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
The contests have staying power in part because of their shock value, Bitar said.
—
Elise Hammond, CNN Money, 4 July 2025
The White House similarly promoted the political shock value of sending some immigrants awaiting deportation to a detention lockup in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and others to a megaprison in El Salvador.
—Will Weissert, Chicago Tribune, 1 July 2025
The White House similarly promoted the political shock value of sending some immigrants awaiting deportation from the U.S. to a detention lockup in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and others to a megaprison in El Salvador.
—Adriana Gomez Licon, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2025
Pavement was real end-of-the-century stuff, punk’s ethos of sledgehammering critique stripped of its former heroism and shock value.
—Armin Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025
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Elise Hammond, CNN Money, 4 July 2025
The White House similarly promoted the political shock value of sending some immigrants awaiting deportation to a detention lockup in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and others to a megaprison in El Salvador.
—Will Weissert, Chicago Tribune, 1 July 2025
The White House similarly promoted the political shock value of sending some immigrants awaiting deportation from the U.S. to a detention lockup in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and others to a megaprison in El Salvador.
—Adriana Gomez Licon, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2025
Pavement was real end-of-the-century stuff, punk’s ethos of sledgehammering critique stripped of its former heroism and shock value.
—Armin Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for shock value
Cite this Entry
“Shock value.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shock%20value. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
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