JOLT Synonyms: 195 Similar and Opposite Words

jolt 1 of 2

noun

ˈjōlt

Definition of jolt

as in collision

a forceful coming together of two things pack the glass vase so that it won't fall victim to any hard jolts in transit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in surprise

something that makes a strong impression because it is so unexpected the news of the CEO's sudden retirement was a jolt to us all

Synonyms & Similar Words

jolt

2 of 2

verb

as in to shake

to make a series of small irregular or violent movements the roller coaster car jerked and jolted as it coursed along the old wooden tracks

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to yank

to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion she jolted the door open with her elbow

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to shock

to cause an unpleasant surprise for the sneak terrorist attack jolted the country out of its indolence and indifference

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 jolt

Noun

The idea that posits that a little bit of red in a room elevates otherwise boring compositions with an unexpected jolt of energy. — Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2026 But Burton, the spiritual leader of the Valkyries, sensed her team needed a jolt and delivered it. — Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Verb

The imminent arrival of the Kelvin wave comes as California has jolted into emergency mode. — Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 This time the message went off-roading, traveling through the animal’s tissue as a faint electrical pulse and switching on an implant that jolted a nerve in that leg. — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for jolt

Recent Examples of Synonyms for jolt

Noun

Diesel prices have skyrocketed due to a collision of events, including the difficulty of getting oil out of the Middle East since the start of the Iran war, which has raised the price of all oil products.

— Matthew Daly, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026
That collision is ultimately the defining moment of the work.

— Ophélie Surcouf, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of collision

Noun

There were some surprises in the rankings, too, with the Fendi Spy bag seeing a 127 percent spike in average resale value amid this year’s Y2K revival.

— Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
Each episode, as Banijay Friends & Family notes, is told with a warm blend of humor and surprise.

— John Hopewell, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of surprise

Verb

In Panama City, about 125 miles from the earthquake’s epicentral area, residents rushed from high-rise buildings when the ground began shaking Friday.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
When war breaks out, he is shaken from his sleep and runs for an air-raid shelter.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of shake

Verb

The couple had previously seen a single owl on an apartment windowsill a few days earlier and were shocked even then, Williams recalled.

— Joseph B. Frederick, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
What shocked him was how unregulated—and unsophisticated—the rental market seemed.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of shock

Verb

Conservatives shuddered to think how close the country had come to permanent entangling alliances.

— Beverly Gage, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
McDonald’s shares fell nearly 5% Wednesday, their largest percentage drop since April 2025, as investors shuddered at the eye-popping price of improving McDonald’s 46,000 global stores.

— Dee-Ann Durbin, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026