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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of jolting
Dana Santas, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Russia’s incursion into Polish airspace is jolting momentum in the Senate to pass a bipartisan sanctions bill against Moscow.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The results were jolting and sui generis.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
Next, adding slow-tempo movement builds capacity without jolting your system.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Russia’s incursion into Polish airspace is jolting momentum in the Senate to pass a bipartisan sanctions bill against Moscow.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The results were jolting and sui generis.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jolting
Adjective
-
The sequence of events is startling.—
David French,
Mercury News,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The startling rise comes as concerned residents are preparing to cast their ballots in the city’s upcoming mayoral race.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Not even a month had passed since his big sister, Toraya, was shot and killed at an apartment complex in New Jersey, devastating the Reid family and shaking the Timberwolves organization to its core.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
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In sixteenth-century Europe, just as Martin Luther’s ideas were shaking Catholic institutions, a far more radical movement for freedom rose up among peasants.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the footage, a uniformed officer is seen forcibly grabbing the female passenger’s arm and yanking her towards the aisle.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Stern is one of several high-profile entertainments hosts who have condemned ABC and Disney for yanking Kimmel off the air.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
His return is not all that surprising, even with the losing record.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid’s latest tour de force is an absurdist, boldly surprising condemnation of his homeland.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Andy sighed, shuddering between them.—
Bryan Washington,
New Yorker,
7 Sep. 2025
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The White House will be well aware of this fact, particularly in an environment where fiscally conservative Republicans will be shuddering at Uncle Sam’s $37 trillion (and growing) national debt.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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He, too, was bowled over by the film's tear-jerking finale.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
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With an epic Oscar-winning title song by Streisand and tear-jerking scenes aplenty, this film is a perennial favorite and often referred to in pop culture.—
Alex Apatoff,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The legacy trade preference program lapsed Tuesday without a renewal from Congress, shocking some and disappointing many, including lawmakers, importers and the Sub-Saharan African (SSA) exporters and heads of state who have been lobbying with mounting fervor for an extension.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
30 Sep. 2025
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Two months after catastrophic flooding killed 27 girls and counselors at Camp Mystic, the famed Texas camp plans to reopen – shocking some family members who still don’t know where their loved one is.—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This has been my go-to spot for years, and the owners are amazing people.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Sep. 2025
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That stuff is so random, and there’s so many amazing bands that no one ever listens to.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Jolting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jolting. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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