1
as in quake
a shaking of the earth
the San Andreas Fault is notorious for its earthquakes
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in upheaval
a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order)
the election of the socialist candidate caused a political earthquake that nearly led to a military coup
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of earthquake
The quakes continued through the morning, with a 2.7-magnitude earthquake reported a little after 7 a.m.
—
Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
San Diego County was lightly shaken late Saturday and early Sunday by a series of small, connected earthquakes that originated in the Brawley area of Imperial County, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 May 2026
An earthquake the night prior knocked out the town’s power.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 Apr. 2026
Haiti declared too dangerous after earthquake Haiti was first designated as too dangerous in 2010 because of a devastating earthquake.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for earthquake
Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
San Diego County was lightly shaken late Saturday and early Sunday by a series of small, connected earthquakes that originated in the Brawley area of Imperial County, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 May 2026
An earthquake the night prior knocked out the town’s power.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 Apr. 2026
Haiti declared too dangerous after earthquake Haiti was first designated as too dangerous in 2010 because of a devastating earthquake.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for earthquake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for earthquake
Noun
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At least 13 buildings collapsed, while landslides triggered by the quake blocked roads to the area, according to CCTV.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 May 2026
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Those who experienced the quake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
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With several high-profile players likely to leave and Beye not expected to remain in his post, another summer of upheaval awaits at Marseille.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
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As a result, global markets are experiencing upheaval and crude oil prices have remained above $100 a barrel.—
Claire Malon,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
Noun
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About 20% will develop West Nile fever, and less than 1% will become sick with West Nile neuroinvasive disease, which DSHS says is a more serious neurological illness that can cause tremors, convulsions, disorientation, paralysis and even death.—
Ciara McCarthy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 May 2026
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Still, a nuclear power plant shouldn’t go right next to a potentially active fault, because even a modest tremor could knock over taller structures and break things.—
Robin George Andrews,
Scientific American,
19 May 2026
Noun
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The Pop Up Film Residency Wildcard is designed to support exceptional film talents from countries in a state of political unrest.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
19 May 2026
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And these are now increasingly fragile as a result of global unrest, climate change and a host of imitators.—
Rebekah Evans,
TheWeek,
19 May 2026
Noun
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And mistaking one for the other is another legacy of how the Cold War foreshortened the humanistic possibilities of the intellectual revolution of the past eighty years—a revolution that has, miraculously, allowed people to communicate with machines using human languages.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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Founding Fathers will go from the stirrings of revolution to the long and bloody fight for independence, and on into the early years of the American republic.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
18 May 2026
Noun
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Lake Baikal, often described as an inland sea because of its enormous size, is notorious for sudden storms and icy conditions even during tourist season, according to National Geographic.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
20 May 2026
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This flooding becomes even worse if accompanied by heavy rain or direct storm surge.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Earthquake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earthquake. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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