1
as in collision
a forceful coming together of two things
the whole railway platform shook from the shock of the two trains colliding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in astonishment
the state of being strongly impressed by something unexpected or unusual
were in shock after they heard the news of the death of the president
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to appal
to cause an unpleasant surprise for
Mom was shocked by the terrible news that her cousin had died in an accident I was shocked to find out that I was the victim of identity theft
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to surprise
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
were shocked by the way the law against public intoxication was constantly being broken
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to scare
to strike with fear
the sudden appearance of the ghost shocked us to the core
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shock
Paul Ridden
may 13, New Atlas, 13 May 2025
The collar corrects your dog's behavior using sound vibration and small shocks.
—Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 13 May 2025
Andy Swift, TVLine, 16 May 2025
Shock And Awe At Incredible Rescue Of Dog From Sea Cliff Edge
By
Rachael O'Connor
Life and Trends Reporter
Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member
news article
0
Animal lovers have been shocked by a daring rescue of a dog who had fallen into sea and ended up on a cliff edge.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shock
Noun
The solid-state design is durable too, able to withstand up to 10,000 g shocks and has component-level protection against dust ingress to IP58 standards.
—Paul Ridden
may 13, New Atlas, 13 May 2025
The collar corrects your dog's behavior using sound vibration and small shocks.
—Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 13 May 2025
Verb
Were you shocked by any of the eliminations along the way?
—Andy Swift, TVLine, 16 May 2025
Shock And Awe At Incredible Rescue Of Dog From Sea Cliff Edge
By
Rachael O'Connor
Life and Trends Reporter
Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member
news article
0
Animal lovers have been shocked by a daring rescue of a dog who had fallen into sea and ended up on a cliff edge.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shock
Noun
-
Crew members were harnessed to the masts for the ship’s traditional departure performance at the time of the collision.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
19 May 2025
-
This replenishment likely comes from collisions between dwarf planets, cometary nuclei, micrometeoroids and other flotsam and jetsam lurking in the dark of the debris disk.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
19 May 2025
Noun
-
Among those who watched in astonishment at the fundraiser were New Hampshire Democratic U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster and California U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
-
To Jin’s astonishment, the sphere darted through the inner courtyard around to the entranceway and then directly out the main gate.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
6 May 2025
Verb
-
Coastal Mississippi is constantly surprising us, but one of its most delightful surprises is the fact that some of its beaches have white sand that rivals even Florida’s top spots.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
23 May 2025
-
After shaking a few hands and taking many a selfies, the pair walked into an awaiting elevator to go surprise more ticket holders.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 May 2025
Verb
-
Start to say no to distractions that do not serve your higher purpose, and start saying yes to the things that challenge you, stretch you and even scare you a little.—
Melissa Sierra,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2025
-
What scares and excites you about where AI is headed for the next generation of artists?—
Lily Marks,
Time,
5 May 2025
Noun
-
Now, the Red Sox seem to be turning toward Campbell as an option at first base, a move that would open the door for top infield prospect Marcelo Mayer to play second base and perhaps spark a lineup desperately in need of a jolt.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
-
The particular intersection of communities depicted here (LGBTQ and Muslim), as well as a handful of Sapphic scenes for the ages, gives the drama an undeniable jolt of freshness.—
Jon Frosch,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2025
Noun
-
To my amazement, the weight started falling off after the first few weeks.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 May 2025
-
To my amazement, within a few weeks, Elizabeth had gotten into the habit of asking nicely instead of nagging.—
Debby Waldman,
Parents,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Still, there is plenty here that should appall both Democrats and Republicans.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Dismay or appall you, sure, but never surprise you.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
What amazes me is how reading has affected not just me but so many others as well.—
Lynne Agress,
Baltimore Sun,
19 May 2025
-
While the dazzling auroras might’ve amazed our ancestors, the weak magnetic field intensified ultraviolet and cosmic radiation.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shock. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share