JOLTING Synonyms: 209 Similar and Opposite Words

jolting 1 of 2

adjective

as in startling

causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness the jolting news about our friend's premature death

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

jolting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of jolt

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

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

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of jolting

Verb

Oil prices have been swinging for months and were as high as $102 per barrel at one point during the conflict, jolting already stubbornly high inflation. — Damian J. Troise, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026 The royal, who was seen repeatedly blinking before jolting awake, was attending the annual ANZAC Day service at London's Westminster Abbey, which is held to commemorate Commonwealth soldiers from Australia, New Zealand and Canada who served and died in wars and peacekeeping operations. — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 19 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for jolting

Adjective

Chelsea have lapses of startling vulnerability out of possession, and while Odegaard’s winner early in the second half was decorated by a sublime Havertz dummy, the move which led to it was far too simple to settle a game of this quality.

— Liam Twomey, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
There are startling displays of what seem to be private moments, as when, at one point, Evans allows the crew to film him showering fully naked.

— Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of startling

Verb

The chance to honor her legacy made for a poignant coincidence for an evening devoted to female power, and a reminder that, however much has changed since Steinem first began shaking things up, there is still plenty to do.

— Tiziana Cardini, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
That doesn’t make their hooting, teeth-baring, chest-beating, or branch-shaking any less of an act of communication.

— Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of shaking

Verb

Once the drop trap — a simple wire cage triggered by yanking on a cord — is set up with an enticing mix of sardines and shards of roast chicken on a cardboard tray inside, everyone moves out of sight behind massive logs a few yards away.

— Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Sandra Ogbebor hunches over her softly humming refrigerator and scours through bottles before finally yanking out an orange juice.

— Light Oriye Tamunotonye, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of yanking

Verb

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
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

Definition of appalling

Adjective

The development isn’t surprising considering McVay and his assistants weren’t pushing Donald to play.

— Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Some of the better chances provoked surprising misses, in particular a header from close range from the normally dependable Merino glanced straight at the ‘keeper, and a swipe by Saka that was shanked wide.

— Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of surprising

Verb

There’s the studio version, which has some really interesting production, with Meg’s shuddering percussion that eventually grates and distracts, and Jack’s very chunky guitar.

— Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026
These seemingly innocuous incidents attain new significance as they’re revisited alongside a slow crescendo that suddenly turns to shuddering piano chords on the track’s bridge.

— Nick Ayres DeMasi, Pitchfork, 1 July 2026

Definition of shuddering

Verb

The production’s winking tone blunts some of the original’s tear-jerking climax, yet its intact happy ending offers a surprisingly comforting vision of survival in an age of constant crises.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Henry drove off and sped up to 45 mph before jerking the car.

— Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of jerking

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jolted

jolting

jolts

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Style

“Jolting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jolting. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of jolting

adjective

verb

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