as in startling
causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness
the jolting news about our friend's premature death
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in shaking
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
2
as in yanking
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 appalling
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
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Recent Examples of jolting
Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Yet the surge in costs for oil and natural gas is still pushing fuel prices higher, cascading through other industries and jolting Asian economies that are especially vulnerable due to the region’s heavy reliance on imports from the Middle East.
—Elaine Kurtenbach, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Several lithographs are elegantly presented, and display the artist’s precision with narrative abstraction, and the emotional heat in his always jolting (in the best possible way) reds, oranges, and blues.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
Fullerton's ferocious winds toppled trees onto homes, cars and trucks, jolting neighbors awake early Wednesday morning.
—Michele Gile, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
And yet something feels jolting.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 12 Dec. 2025
Her rest proves short-lived of course, with Honey jolting back into an upright position before looking around to see if anyone has noticed her sleeping on the job.
—Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025
In the final days of its most embarrassing season in 37 years, CSU pulled off the play of the year, jolting college football with the hiring of Jim Mora.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 26 Nov. 2025
The bus pulled to a stop a few blocks from UC Medical Center, jolting Gray awake.
—Dan Horn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
The surge in costs for oil and natural gas is pushing fuel prices higher, cascading through other industries and jolting Asian economies that are especially vulnerable due to the region’s heavy reliance on imports from the Middle East.
—Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Yet the surge in costs for oil and natural gas is still pushing fuel prices higher, cascading through other industries and jolting Asian economies that are especially vulnerable due to the region’s heavy reliance on imports from the Middle East.
—Elaine Kurtenbach, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Several lithographs are elegantly presented, and display the artist’s precision with narrative abstraction, and the emotional heat in his always jolting (in the best possible way) reds, oranges, and blues.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
Fullerton's ferocious winds toppled trees onto homes, cars and trucks, jolting neighbors awake early Wednesday morning.
—Michele Gile, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
And yet something feels jolting.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 12 Dec. 2025
Her rest proves short-lived of course, with Honey jolting back into an upright position before looking around to see if anyone has noticed her sleeping on the job.
—Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025
In the final days of its most embarrassing season in 37 years, CSU pulled off the play of the year, jolting college football with the hiring of Jim Mora.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 26 Nov. 2025
The bus pulled to a stop a few blocks from UC Medical Center, jolting Gray awake.
—Dan Horn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jolting
Adjective
-
Drowning remains the second leading cause of unintentional death for kids ages 5-14, with a startling 28% rise in fatalities in 2022 compared to 2019, according to the CDC.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
About 30 minutes into the flight, passengers said flight attendants began running up and down the aisle appearing agitated before making a startling announcement.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There is the interceptors overhead, there's the loud booms, hotel windows shaking and alerts going off on your phone at all hours of the day and night.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The energy was on 10 from the moment Lil Fame and Billy Danze stepped onstage, bass shaking the walls like sheet metal in high wind.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The body-camera footage shows Exum yanking the wheel left, toward the Rogue, then right.—
Ruby Cramer,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
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Other plaintiffs’ attorneys, however, have called the CEO’s threat of yanking the product a scare tactic.—
Lisa Schencker,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Of all the recent poster boys for appalling misbehavior by the State Police, Michael Proctor would of course rank number one.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Truly appalling friend counsel here from Mindy.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
19 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
On the surface, however, what appears to be most surprising is the apparent lack of parachutes for the crew.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
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In other sports news, Team USA had a surprising loss to Italy at the World Baseball Classic, as did the Illini in the Big Ten Tournament, while the Bears re-signed several players and lost others to free agency.—
Grace Miserocchi,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That all came to a shuddering halt after Khashoggi’s death.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Sat shuddering in my seat as the lights drew down.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The clip on TikTok shows the seat jerking abruptly, apparently from forceful pushes by the person seated behind her.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
But then her limbs started jerking.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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With personal testimonies and shocking footage from the bombing of Nasser Hospital to the political struggle in the halls of American power, the film reveals a terrible reality, paving the way for humanity and collective action.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
15 Mar. 2026
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Repot in the proper season and handle roots gently to avoid shocking the plant.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Jolting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jolting. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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