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
Chris Bumbaca, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
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
Verb
The video is jolting, honestly.
—Chris Bumbaca, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
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
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Despite an innate gift for melodic beauty and a bedraggled voice that would rouse itself to startling intensity, he was often derailed by substance abuse issues and a deluge of releases that were clearly in need of an editor or A&R executive to prune.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2025
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Perhaps more startling was the suggestion that India will never find another star who shines as brightly as Shah Rukh Khan.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The brief clip appeared to show one of the landing skids shaking moments before the crash.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
7 Oct. 2025
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Place flour in a shallow dish; dredge chicken lightly in flour, shaking off excess.—
Elizabeth Nelson,
Southern Living,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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However, she was momentarily stopped when one concert goer grabbed her, violently yanking her backwards and into the barricade.—
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
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Neil Young is yanking his music from Amazon, the rock star announced this week.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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There’s a surprising shortage of teams with truly high-end blue lines.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Data shows a surprising and significant drop in book challenges from the 2023-2024 school year to the 2024-2025 term after years of increases in bans among classrooms and libraries.—
Lexi Lonas Cochran,
The Hill,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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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Sounds like the plot of a tear-jerking movie, no?—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 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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After shocking the college football world last season with an upset win over Alabama, Vanderbilt Commodores star quarterback Diego Pavia will look to replicate this magic in their latest matchup with the Crimson Tide on Saturday.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Oct. 2025
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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
Adjective
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Shackleton may have made a mistake in the outdoors, and the amazing story of his getting back on track entertained millions of people for a century afterward.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
7 Oct. 2025
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The flocking is amazing, not too heavy yet sturdy.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Jolting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jolting. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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