earthquakes

noun

plural of earthquake
1
as in quakes
a shaking of the earth the San Andreas Fault is notorious for its earthquakes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in upheavals
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

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 earthquakes The country, which has been under the complete control of the Taliban, has also experienced deadly strikes from Pakistan, earthquakes and widespread hunger and malnutrition. — Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 15 Aug. 2026 The region experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions as large blocks of the Earth’s crust collide. — Christine Valora, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2026 The Southeast Asian nation sits on the Ring of Fire, a band around the Pacific Ocean that sets off frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026 Twin earthquakes in June shattered Venezuela’s coastal state of La Guaira, transforming a Caribbean playground into a landscape of ruin and grief. — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026 The Venezuelan players union AUFPV and soccer players across the country quickly launched relief efforts to support those affected after the June 24 earthquakes. — Michelle Kaufman august 7, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026 The first hint came from a small swarm of earthquakes on May 8, with NASA satellites spotting steamy volcanic plumes and discolored water the next day. — Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 31 July 2026 Natural hazard risks include earthquakes, flooding, wildfires and volcanoes. — William P. Barrett, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 The building is named after the mayor who pushed for construction of the 140,000-square-foot facility that can house 1,000 evacuees during heat storms and earthquakes. — Pat Maio, Daily News, 31 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for earthquakes
  1. quakes
  2. upheavals
  3. tremors
  4. revolutions
Noun
  • The quakes hit as La Guaira was marking the feast of San Juan, an annual celebration featuring the ritual beating of drums.
    — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In western South America, quakes often strike when one plate — in this case the Nazca Plate in the Pacific — sinks beneath the South American Plate, in a process known as subduction, Ortiz told CNN’s Rafael Romo.
    — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of quakes
Noun
  • Like many in his generation Zhu’s early career was upended by the political upheavals of the Mao Zedong era.
    — CNN Staff, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • From technological upheavals to an increasingly frenetic global trend cycle, industry leaders are constantly tasked with predicting what comes next — which is no small feat in 2026.
    — Sophie Lou Wilson, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of upheavals
Noun
  • That's equivalent to about 80 tremors per day, according to the geological survey.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Other than sharing the same tectonic plate, however, the tremors don’t have much in common, according to a geology expert.
    — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of tremors
Noun
  • From the viewpoint of the bourgeoisie, both Jews and the aristocracy advocated revolutions and radical change, and thus both attacked the status quo.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The revolutions created by Nazi and Stalinist ideology, and enforced by terror, aimed to change reality itself.
    — David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of revolutions

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Cite this Entry

“Earthquakes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earthquakes. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on earthquakes

Nglish: Translation of earthquakes for Spanish Speakers

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