1
as in shook
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
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2
as in jerked
to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion
she jolted the door open with her elbow
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in shocked
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
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Recent Examples of jolted
Its closure has jolted the world economy.
—
Bassem Mroue, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
Kids jolted into action, performing feats of cardio that would have adults needing a lie-down.
—Veronique Greenwood, Time, 29 May 2026
And yet, each is playing with desperation to make an impact — and garner more playing time — that has jolted the Red Sox to life.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Almost exactly a year ago, a swarm of earthquakes located in the ocean off Humboldt County jolted the same area in May 2025.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 25 May 2026
Iran's closure of the strait, through which about 20% of global energy supplies transit, has jolted the world economy and sent prices for gasoline and other goods climbing.
—ABC News, 24 May 2026
Alex Hahn and Brayden Hatcher scored for a 4-3 lead, and the Longhorn offense jolted to life.
—Jack Leo, AJC.com, 24 May 2026
Iran’s closure of the strait, through which about 20% of global energy supplies transit, has jolted the world economy and sent prices for gasoline and other goods climbing.
—Darlene Superville, Fortune, 24 May 2026
Quite abruptly, the world has jolted into another infectious-disease crisis.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 19 May 2026
Bassem Mroue, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
Kids jolted into action, performing feats of cardio that would have adults needing a lie-down.
—Veronique Greenwood, Time, 29 May 2026
And yet, each is playing with desperation to make an impact — and garner more playing time — that has jolted the Red Sox to life.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Almost exactly a year ago, a swarm of earthquakes located in the ocean off Humboldt County jolted the same area in May 2025.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 25 May 2026
Iran's closure of the strait, through which about 20% of global energy supplies transit, has jolted the world economy and sent prices for gasoline and other goods climbing.
—ABC News, 24 May 2026
Alex Hahn and Brayden Hatcher scored for a 4-3 lead, and the Longhorn offense jolted to life.
—Jack Leo, AJC.com, 24 May 2026
Iran’s closure of the strait, through which about 20% of global energy supplies transit, has jolted the world economy and sent prices for gasoline and other goods climbing.
—Darlene Superville, Fortune, 24 May 2026
Quite abruptly, the world has jolted into another infectious-disease crisis.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 19 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jolted
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Tolle shook off his short last outing and did his part to keep the Orioles off the board.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
4 June 2026
-
That famous summer, at the fireworks in Versailles, every streaking green flame shook a sheet of light across the crowd sitting on blankets on the lawns.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
In the summer of 2020, former Morgan Stanley trader Adam Crawley was wandering through Indonesia, Thailand and Australia, perfecting his qigong with a man called Master YanG, when a cold message on LinkedIn jerked him back to reality.—
Phoebe Liu,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
John jerked Maggie back by the elbow and stopped her from stepping into the street.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
That shocked George, who the next year approved Parliament’s acts designed to rein in Massachusetts’ ability to govern itself.—
Laurie Kellman,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
-
That shocked George, who the next year approved Parliament's acts designed to rein in Massachusetts' ability to govern itself.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
The way the stadium shuddered with noise.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
-
At least the elevator still creaked and shuddered, as in the old days, finally trembling open on the eighth floor.—
Rick Bragg,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Her only help came from a passenger who yanked the girls away.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
2 June 2026
-
The theater was also immediately gutted, the audience chairs yanked out and flung into a pile in the middle of the studio.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Democratic lawmakers were predictably appalled by Pulte’s selection.—
Shane Harris,
The Atlantic,
2 June 2026
-
Taxpayers were rightfully appalled.—
Mercury News Editorial Board,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
THe morning after Louisiana’s House primaries were scheduled to take place, worshippers at Mount Zion First Baptist Church in Baton Rouge were on their feet, swaying to the gospel music that vibrated through the wooden pews.—
Yvonne Wingett Sanchez,
The Atlantic,
31 May 2026
-
The pilot of a helicopter that crashed on a sightseeing flight off the Hawaiian island of Kauai last month, killing three passengers, told investigators that the aircraft vibrated and spun before plunging into the water, according to report released Friday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As Aden Kassaye and her mother got out to inspect the damage, Beas Solorio reportedly lurched the BMW forward, making contact with Ayalew’s torso, prompting Ayalew to slam her hands on the BMW’s hood to brace herself and yell at the driver.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
30 May 2026
-
So between those two things, the balance of gerrymanders has lurched pretty abruptly toward the right.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Jolted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jolted. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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