1
as in collisions
a forceful coming together of two things
pack the glass vase so that it won't fall victim to any hard jolts in transit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in shocks
something that makes a strong impression because it is so unexpected
the news of the CEO's sudden retirement was a jolt to us all
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in shakes
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 jerks
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 appalls
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 jolts
Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026
Edwards’ explosiveness produces randomized jolts of spectacular.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 9 May 2026
That week, nobody talked about anything but the lead-up to the big challenge in which Bukele and La Choly would see who could withstand the jolts of that bumpy musical fairground ride, which tries to shake off its passengers.
—Óscar Martínez, The Dial, 30 Apr. 2026
The jolts are muted, the setpieces are drab, and the gore is all too literally kept under wraps.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
Then, as the pandemic waned, in 2023 and early ’24, came two jolts to the system – federal pandemic-era assistance ended, pulling food and food-related funding away from charities, and the number of people seeking food continued to grow.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026
Two of America’s largest tech companies suffered stunning defeats in court this week, sustaining early jolts in what could prove to be a seismic shift in how social media operates amid a new landscape of legal risk.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
When people refresh social media feeds or win a round of a video game, their brains get dopamine jolts that train them to seek that hit again and again.
—Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
This could cause jolts in the energy markets.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2026
Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 June 2026
The arrival of a woman who works in the sweatshop, Jianhu (Poppy Liu), jolts the story into a new direction, and even a new dimension.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 May 2026
Blue light jolts us awake, blocking our body’s impulse to produce melatonin when the sun fades.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 28 Apr. 2026
Inflammation and the immune system Being doused in cold water jolts your sympathetic nervous system into gear.
—Lauryn Higgins, Time, 13 Nov. 2025
An ice bath, by contrast, jolts the whole nervous system—not just the vagus nerve, Tracey wrote in an op-ed published in 2024.
—Clarissa Brincat, Popular Science, 25 Sep. 2025
Ice water jolts the nervous system.
—Dayanne S. Antonio, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
The building jolts and is cloaked in blackness.
—Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026
Edwards’ explosiveness produces randomized jolts of spectacular.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 9 May 2026
That week, nobody talked about anything but the lead-up to the big challenge in which Bukele and La Choly would see who could withstand the jolts of that bumpy musical fairground ride, which tries to shake off its passengers.
—Óscar Martínez, The Dial, 30 Apr. 2026
The jolts are muted, the setpieces are drab, and the gore is all too literally kept under wraps.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
Then, as the pandemic waned, in 2023 and early ’24, came two jolts to the system – federal pandemic-era assistance ended, pulling food and food-related funding away from charities, and the number of people seeking food continued to grow.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026
Two of America’s largest tech companies suffered stunning defeats in court this week, sustaining early jolts in what could prove to be a seismic shift in how social media operates amid a new landscape of legal risk.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
When people refresh social media feeds or win a round of a video game, their brains get dopamine jolts that train them to seek that hit again and again.
—Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
This could cause jolts in the energy markets.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
At a time when Hacks’s final season seems all but destined to receive a farewell Emmy in this category, with rivals like The Bear, Abbott Elementary, and Only Murders in the Building feeling too familiar to truly rock the boat, could a comedy-horror hybrid be the thing that actually jolts the race?
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 June 2026
The arrival of a woman who works in the sweatshop, Jianhu (Poppy Liu), jolts the story into a new direction, and even a new dimension.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 May 2026
Blue light jolts us awake, blocking our body’s impulse to produce melatonin when the sun fades.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 28 Apr. 2026
Inflammation and the immune system Being doused in cold water jolts your sympathetic nervous system into gear.
—Lauryn Higgins, Time, 13 Nov. 2025
An ice bath, by contrast, jolts the whole nervous system—not just the vagus nerve, Tracey wrote in an op-ed published in 2024.
—Clarissa Brincat, Popular Science, 25 Sep. 2025
Ice water jolts the nervous system.
—Dayanne S. Antonio, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jolts
Noun
-
The current number of near-collisions is tough to pin down, as FAA data on drone-aircraft encounters is limited and difficult to verify.—
Katie Nadworny,
Travel + Leisure,
12 June 2026
-
The overcrossing was designed to provide animals with a safer route across the highway while also reducing collisions involving motorists.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
New York — One of the biggest mysteries of the global economy is why the oil market has remained so calm during one of the greatest supply shocks in history.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
-
As the shocks from the Middle East crisis get passed on to consumers, inflation is set to rise while growth is expected to slow, further narrowing India’s appeal among global investors.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
This majestic sequence delivers a lifetime’s outpouring of love’s inadequacies and frustrations, of grief and regret, of gratitude along with candid acceptance of loss, and of self-questioning that never shakes the foundations of the family—her ferocious commitment to the children.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 June 2026
-
Jalen Brunson shakes free of a couple of defenders, including the Spurs' Victor Wembanyama, the league's Defensive Player of the Year, and catches the inbounds pass near midcourt.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
In a viral video of the aftermath, the robot jerks back and forth to shake the glass off, showering yet more dangerous shards onto the sidewalk.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Ross’s video does not show if the SUV made contact with him, as the camera angle jerks up to the sky.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Agents yelled from every direction, and the thumps of a news helicopter overhead were deafening.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
-
You’ll be thrown around in your seat, which moves in sync with the action, along with thumps in the back, splashes of water, blasts of air, smoke, and flashes of light.—
Benny Har-Even,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2026
Noun
-
Even with all those extra teams – there’s 48 in this year’s tournament, up 16 from recent editions – there will still be the surprises and upsets that make every World Cup special.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
-
Anthem’s tools and resources help members find the right care, in the right place, at the right time, resulting in lower costs, fewer surprises, and a simpler care experience.—
Anthem Blue Cross California,
Daily News,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
The American flag has never been among those Davis shudders to make.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
-
Nothing much really happens in this movie after Philip’s initial arrest, but the world viscerally shudders under Lucy’s feet every time one of her husband’s alibis falls apart.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Like a false note on an out-of-tune piano, a clunky verb, a sentence without rhythm, yanks the reader out the flow of the work.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Maden takes thee wine bottle from him and the officers reach for his wrists but Brown resists and yanks his arms back, the video shows.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Jolts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jolts. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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