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
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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
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Recent Examples of jolted
Vanke’s dollar bonds due 2027 jumped about 3 cents Wednesday to 28 cents on the dollar, putting them on track for their highest price since late November when the builder jolted markets with its extension plans.
—
Bloomberg News, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 2026
The University Park loan default is far from the only East Bay complex that has been jolted with loan issues.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
Japan markets ride high on ‘Takaichi trade’ Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s plan to call a snap election jolted the country’s markets, as investors bet on her expansionary fiscal policy.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 13 Jan. 2026
In the late 18th century, just a few decades before Mary Shelley wrote her science fiction masterpiece, the Italian surgeon Luigi Galvani jolted the scientific community with experiments that used metal and electricity to compel disembodied frog legs to kick.
—Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 12 Jan. 2026
The federal government’s effort has been viewed as a broad attack on social services in California, and jolted tens of thousands of working families and the state’s child-care industry.
—Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
She was jolted awake to see her kids’ father coming at her, pointing a knife at her chest, prosecutors said.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
The earthquake jolted at a depth of 4 miles, with its epicenter about 9 miles north-northwest of Susanville.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 29 Dec. 2025
The mass merchant, which has been jolted to life after a period of stagnation, has rejiggered to get its private-label fashions to move at something like the speed of social media.
—Evan Clark, Footwear News, 22 Dec. 2025
Bloomberg News, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 2026
The University Park loan default is far from the only East Bay complex that has been jolted with loan issues.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
Japan markets ride high on ‘Takaichi trade’ Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s plan to call a snap election jolted the country’s markets, as investors bet on her expansionary fiscal policy.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 13 Jan. 2026
In the late 18th century, just a few decades before Mary Shelley wrote her science fiction masterpiece, the Italian surgeon Luigi Galvani jolted the scientific community with experiments that used metal and electricity to compel disembodied frog legs to kick.
—Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 12 Jan. 2026
The federal government’s effort has been viewed as a broad attack on social services in California, and jolted tens of thousands of working families and the state’s child-care industry.
—Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
She was jolted awake to see her kids’ father coming at her, pointing a knife at her chest, prosecutors said.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
The earthquake jolted at a depth of 4 miles, with its epicenter about 9 miles north-northwest of Susanville.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 29 Dec. 2025
The mass merchant, which has been jolted to life after a period of stagnation, has rejiggered to get its private-label fashions to move at something like the speed of social media.
—Evan Clark, Footwear News, 22 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jolted
Verb
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This should have people across the country absolutely shook.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Jan. 2026
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The birth of Endeavor startled Hollywood, but Endeavor’s subsequent takeover of powerhouse William Morris shook the town to its core.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Aisha jerked and opened her eyes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
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The two stood nose-to-nose on the field when the Steelers player grabbed onto Chase’s facemask, jerked his head and appeared to punch him.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
16 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The news shocked those who played both for and against Belichick.—
Amos Morale III,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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On March 12, Ujlaky’s friends, family and the community were shocked when police arrested Bryce Dickey, also of Spring Creek, and charged him with the crime.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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No one spoke until Chuky shuddered his head and this time without laughing said, Shit, that’s crazy.—
Jonathan Miles,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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East Denver sushi fans shuddered in late December when Okinawa Japanese Cuisine, a mainstay on Colfax Avenue since 2010, closed and boarded up its doors with brown paper.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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On game night, Lavrenov was the one who threw elbows, threw down dunks and yanked down rebounds and threw outlet passes to start the fast break.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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Eventually, she is yanked from the car while still tangled in her seat belt.—
Ruby Cramer,
New Yorker,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The unconscionable treatment of maids in Alma’s era finds uncomfortable parallels in the 1980s, when Angelika is both appalled and intrigued by the leering looks of her uncle Uwe (Konstantin Lindhorst).—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
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Jefferson—the original originalist—would have been appalled at some of our recent Supreme Court decisions.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The same thing can be said about the narrowcast programming on public-access television, which, at its best, vibrated with sui generis excitement that predated and forecasted the early uncharted territory of the internet.—
Vikram Murthi,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2026
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As the meeting was ending, Vande Kolk’s cellphone vibrated.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The relentless Chacon lurched outside after her just as his car door opened and out popped their 6-year-old son, begging his dad to stop.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
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New year optimism was certainly in short supply inside Anfield as the mood lurched from restlessness to exasperation and then anger.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
2 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Jolted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jolted. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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