as in startling
causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness
the jolting news about our friend's premature death
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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
Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 19 June 2026
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
Verb
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jolting
Adjective
-
The swelling was significant, the bruising startling and the healing process appeared long and painful.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
20 June 2026
-
Thursday’s cacophony of startling videos – with Ukrainian drones arriving in waves over the flames to follow up on strike after strike – marks a global moment of clarity, in which the Kremlin is truly struggling.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
With a quick and creative offensive attack producing goals in front of stadium-shaking home crowds, the Americans have already won their group and booked their place in the knockout round.—
Jim Vertuno,
Chicago Tribune,
20 June 2026
-
In a major rupture, strong shaking could cause severe damage near the fault and in areas built on soft or water-saturated soils, which can amplify shaking.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Counsell admitted postgame that yanking Imanaga might not have been the right move.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2026
-
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
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
Adjective
-
This surprising mix of cripsy prosciutto, Parmesan wafers, figs, and nuts will be a hit at your next party.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
20 June 2026
-
Within these nearly three dozen documents are a bunch of curious, surprising, and illuminating things about this year’s Emmy hopefuls.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
Design practices Not knowing ahead of time what lunar explorers may face is an unsure, shuddering proposition.—
Leonard David,
Space.com,
20 June 2026
-
Environmental groups, though, are shuddering about the details the new ballot measure could bring.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Although not all the novel’s major characters make it to the end of this uplifting yet tear-jerking work of historical fiction, Six-Thirty safely perseveres.—
Camille Perri,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
-
Avoid jerking the floss or aggressive movements; instead, use smooth, gentle motions.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Ladeira uses a mister to spray the plate with housemade rose vinegar to give a whiff of funky brightness without shocking the palate.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2026
-
This sweeping novel opens in nineteen-sixties Calcutta, when a three-year-old girl demands to eat fish, shocking her family of Jains.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Jolting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jolting. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
