Synonyms of jolts

jolts 1 of 2

noun

plural of jolt

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

• collisions
• shocks
• thumps
• impacts
• crashes
• bumps
• slams
• blows
• slaps
• kicks
• encounters
• punches
• contacts
• concussions
• knocks
• strikes
• impingements
• hits
• jounces
• jars
• wallops
• smashes
• touches
• raps
• buffets
• thrashings
• batterings
• bashings
• lickings
• meetings

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

• shocks
• surprises
• revelations
• bombshells
• bolts from the blue
• stunners
• jars
• thunderclaps
• jaw-droppers
• kickers
• shockers
• wonders
• marvels
• eye-openers
• amazements
• twists
• fillips
• kicks
• wrinkles

jolts

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of jolt

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

• shakes
• shudders
• jerks
• vibrates
• quivers
• shivers
• trembles
• convulses
• wobbles
• twitches
• quakes
• jiggles
• judders
• joggles
• sways
• buckets
• agitates
• jounces
• throbs
• waves
• flickers
• swings
• rocks
• thrills
• flutters
• chatters
• pulses
• quavers
• palpitates
• fluctuates
• oscillates
• pulsates
• wavers
• undulates
• dodders
• pitter-patters
• beats
• pit-a-pats

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

• jerks
• yanks
• lurches
• twitches
• pulls
• shakes
• grabs
• tugs
• hitches
• bumps
• bucks
• hoicks
• tears
• staggers
• jogs
• jiggles
• drags
• snatches
• rips
• plucks
• joggles
• jounces
• lugs
• snaps (up)
• tweaks
• wrenches
• jigs
• pitches
• wrings
• wrests

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

• shocks
• appalls
• stuns
• horrifies
• scares
• startles
• shakes
• frightens
• outrages
• shakes up
• astonishes
• floors
• terrifies
• alarms
• disgusts
• overwhelms
• amazes
• panics
• stupefies
• frights
• flabbergasts
• terrorizes
• spooks
• dismays
• revolts
• dumbfounds
• nauseates
• awes
• freaks (out)
• bowls over
• sickens
• upsets
• knocks for a loop
• affrights
• scandalizes
• unsettles
• displeases
• repels
• offends
• disturbs
• disconcerts
• distresses
• disquiets
• scarifies
• astounds
• unnerves
• discomforts
• perturbs
• turns off
• daunts
• chills
• undoes
• dispirits
• emasculates
• overpowers
• demoralizes
• unstrings
• unmans
• discomposes
• crushes
• weirds out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• delights
• pleases
• buffers
• cushions
• rejoices
• tickles
• gratifies
• cheers
• entices
• assures
• tempts
• comforts
• charms
• soothes
• reassures
• consoles
• solaces

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of jolts

Noun

Riley, who finished with 232 all-purpose yards Friday, provided the jolts early as the Blackhawks used big plays to counter the grind-it-out attack used by Streamwood. — Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026

But, though the special effects are killer, what makes the show click is its suspenseful melancholy, as quiet scenes build to jolts so intense that the whole audience screamed. — Rhoda Feng, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026

When James Graham’s play Ink premiered in London in 2017 and jumped to Broadway two years later, director Rupert Goold infused the drama with rollercoaster momentum, extravagant musical flourishes and jolts of bawdy low comedy. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026

Many reported the worst jolts to the head coming near the end. — Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

There are no lyrics, no mixing inconsistencies, no jolts of experimental hiss. — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026

Additional jolts of sophistication come courtesy of a custom Area Environments wall covering, a gold mirror from Made Goods, Jiun Ho sconces, and German photographer Ellen von Unwerth’s black and white snapshot of a carefree Naomi Campbell. — Alia Akkam, Architectural Digest, 13 July 2026

Takeoff and landing are when many aviation incidents occur—they’re considered the most critical phases of a flight and when an aircraft is most vulnerable to sudden, unexpected jolts of motion. — Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026

The building jolts and is cloaked in blackness. — Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026

Verb

For several seconds, the camera angle jolts to a view of just gushing water. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026

Rohde notes that the team had to stop viewing the Tower of Terror as a hotel, and instead look at it as something of a blank page — an empty canvas that just happened to be in the shape of a blocky silhouette that jolts guests 190 feet in the air. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

The brain then jolts the body awake to restart breathing, and the cycle can repeat 5 to 100 times an hour. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026

The brain then jolts the body awake to restart breathing, a cycle that can repeat 5 to 100 or more times an hour. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 3 Aug. 2026

Carrey’s Povich jolts awake as Park’s Chung screeches his name and appears in their bedroom doorway in a dressing gown. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 July 2026

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