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
Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
On social media, residents across the area described the earthquake jolting their homes and rattling windows and doors.
—William B. Davis, New York Times, 4 June 2026
And while cinematically the evidence may not yet be persuasive, with a young generation listening to its own instincts and economically jolting a sclerotic system, the parallel feels bang-on.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 31 May 2026
Prices have spiked for oil, gas and several related products, jolting the world economy.
—Mariam Fam, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2026
Its closure has caused a spike in the price of oil, gas, and several downstream products, jolting the world economy.
—Samy Magdy, Fortune, 24 May 2026
Prices have spiked for oil, gas and several downstream products, jolting the world economy.
—ABC News, 24 May 2026
Chloe Claudel, picking up on that thread, directs the play in a cleverly glitchy mode, giving you normality with sudden, jolting gestures that move it into territory that’s unsettling, hilarious, or oddly serene.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 May 2026
Either way, this is jolting for many of Britain’s 290,000 Jews, many of whom prided themselves in their unfussy integration into British society.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 1 May 2026
Verb
Israel launched airstrikes on central and western Iran after Tehran fired missiles at Israel, jolting major cities with explosions and raising fears the region is sliding back toward all-out war.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
On social media, residents across the area described the earthquake jolting their homes and rattling windows and doors.
—William B. Davis, New York Times, 4 June 2026
And while cinematically the evidence may not yet be persuasive, with a young generation listening to its own instincts and economically jolting a sclerotic system, the parallel feels bang-on.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 31 May 2026
Prices have spiked for oil, gas and several related products, jolting the world economy.
—Mariam Fam, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2026
Its closure has caused a spike in the price of oil, gas, and several downstream products, jolting the world economy.
—Samy Magdy, Fortune, 24 May 2026
Prices have spiked for oil, gas and several downstream products, jolting the world economy.
—ABC News, 24 May 2026
Chloe Claudel, picking up on that thread, directs the play in a cleverly glitchy mode, giving you normality with sudden, jolting gestures that move it into territory that’s unsettling, hilarious, or oddly serene.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 May 2026
Either way, this is jolting for many of Britain’s 290,000 Jews, many of whom prided themselves in their unfussy integration into British society.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jolting
Adjective
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His recovery and startling physical transformation hardly a year after his injury became a frequent topic on social media.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
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This is arguably a more startling possibility than the high concept at the film’s center, though it’s treated as secondary, not least because Abby’s own head hasn’t been in the game since losing her father Warren (David Starthairn) the year before.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Add 2 ounces of water to compensate for shaking.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
13 June 2026
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In a major rupture, strong shaking could last tens of seconds to more than a minute.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
Verb
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There are stories of major Nashville players yanking him off the street, keeping him drunk for days in hotels, then leaving Knoxville with stacks of new songs.—
Jonathan Rowe,
SPIN,
1 June 2026
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Since early May, companies that used the dry milk powder in their food products have been yanking those products on the concern they might be contaminated with salmonella.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
31 May 2026
Verb
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The young Forster recoiled from the school’s culture of authoritarianism and militaristic chauvinism, which may have found expression in the students’ often appalling attitudes toward their own mothers.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
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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
Adjective
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The discovery is so surprising because even though AGNs are rich with gas and dust — the building blocks of planets — the turbulent conditions within the disks wouldn't generally be considered ideal for forming planets.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
14 June 2026
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Netflix has yet to renew the show for a second season, which is at least a little bit surprising.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Verb
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The series opens as City’s record-breaking run of 26 games unbeaten comes to a shuddering halt, with a string of defeats in late 2024 leaving Guardiola visibly shaken.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
8 June 2026
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That brewery is taking over Headflyer's space after closing its own Nordeast taproom in 2023, then shuddering entirely last year before rising from the ashes months later.—
Anthony Bettin,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Physical tics can be as subtle as eye blinking, or involve jerking the arms, or stretching the neck.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
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Avoid jerking the floss or aggressive movements; instead, use smooth, gentle motions.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
12 May 2026
Verb
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That 26-year-old Haitian, Joe Gaetjens, scored the winning goal, heading in a pass from Walter Bahr and shocking the sports world.—
Chuck Murr,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
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Dozens of older homes, most built during the area’s postwar building boom, were in a state of shocking disrepair.—
The Conversation,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Jolting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jolting. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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