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
Zack Cox, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2026
Elsewhere, jolts of intensity come from human hands turning round knobs in real time.
—Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 14 Jan. 2026
The individual jolts, which seemed at some points to come weekly, added up.
—David Rosowsky, Forbes.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Twenty hinge-pipe beams were installed inside segments of the roadway, which allow the bridge deck to flex and slide back and forth as the temperature changes or ground shakes, but prevent lateral, side-to-side jolts that could jeopardize the bridge’s integrity.
—Katie Lauer, Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2025
The archipelago, home to around 125 million people, experiences around 1,500 jolts every year.
—CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
From fall fragrances like apple cider and more neutral scents like green tea to jolts of refreshing grapefruit, a single scented candle can really set the mood in any space.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 28 Nov. 2025
Residents across Santa Clara and San Benito counties reported feeling sharp jolts, though there were no immediate reports of injuries or major damage.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
The Conjuring 2 is filled with sudden jolts, dog bells signaling danger, self-moving fire engine toys, and the infamous Crooked Man — all shot with cinematic tricks borrowed from '70s-era filmmaking.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
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
Simons also gave Boston timely jolts of off-the-bench scoring.
—Zack Cox, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2026
Elsewhere, jolts of intensity come from human hands turning round knobs in real time.
—Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 14 Jan. 2026
The individual jolts, which seemed at some points to come weekly, added up.
—David Rosowsky, Forbes.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Twenty hinge-pipe beams were installed inside segments of the roadway, which allow the bridge deck to flex and slide back and forth as the temperature changes or ground shakes, but prevent lateral, side-to-side jolts that could jeopardize the bridge’s integrity.
—Katie Lauer, Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2025
The archipelago, home to around 125 million people, experiences around 1,500 jolts every year.
—CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
From fall fragrances like apple cider and more neutral scents like green tea to jolts of refreshing grapefruit, a single scented candle can really set the mood in any space.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 28 Nov. 2025
Residents across Santa Clara and San Benito counties reported feeling sharp jolts, though there were no immediate reports of injuries or major damage.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
The Conjuring 2 is filled with sudden jolts, dog bells signaling danger, self-moving fire engine toys, and the infamous Crooked Man — all shot with cinematic tricks borrowed from '70s-era filmmaking.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
-
But demonstrating this beyond a shadow of a doubt proved in some respects more challenging than actually creating the elusive plasma itself, with the case for success strengthening as RHIC’s numbers of collisions soared.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Sports already take severe head impacts and concussions seriously, with protocols to remove players after collisions.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That said, the government has a decades-old playbook on how to get workers through economic shocks.—
Josh Tyrangiel,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
-
That is, a country’s economy was much more likely to be impacted by shocks to nearby countries than by shocks in faraway countries.—
Josh Ederington,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Also, unlike Premier Protein shakes, Fairlife shakes are suitable for anybody who’s lactose intolerant.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The bulletin highlights the case of James Craig, who was convicted in July of poisoning his wife’s protein shakes with a mix of cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, the medication used in eye drops.—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The video suddenly jerks away as the vehicle starts to move and shots can be heard.—
Nicole Sganga,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In Guyana’s capital city of Georgetown, neighbors can still hear the thumps.—
Tyler Jett,
Des Moines Register,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
First glimpsed in some of JWST’s earliest images, LRDs remain one of the telescope’s biggest surprises—ruby-red objects that shine like a star but may reach up to 500 light-years in size.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Vuitton is plotting a full-court press throughout 2026 around the motif’s origins, with special-edition anniversary collections backed by dedicated campaigns, pop-ups and other animations and surprises.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The mind shudders at the thought.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
-
So one shudders to think what might happen when the Dolphins now face a murderer’s row of elite running backs and mobile quarterbacks.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Judy yanks Mikey’s roller trunk out of the mud and leads him toward one of the nearby hiking trails.—
Michael Nied,
PEOPLE,
26 Nov. 2025
-
Suddenly, someone in the audience yanks her violently into the screaming mass of people.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Jolts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jolts. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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