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
Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2026
Literal and figurative pain points included ensuring each piece properly conducting electricity, rigging every square with mechanical keyboard switches to facilitate the connections, and countless unintentional jolts.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 Feb. 2026
Both of those moments were jolts.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Feb. 2026
To further stress-test the robot, researchers added a BumpEm device that delivers stronger physical jolts.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 Feb. 2026
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
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
This could cause jolts in the energy markets.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2026
Literal and figurative pain points included ensuring each piece properly conducting electricity, rigging every square with mechanical keyboard switches to facilitate the connections, and countless unintentional jolts.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 Feb. 2026
Both of those moments were jolts.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Feb. 2026
To further stress-test the robot, researchers added a BumpEm device that delivers stronger physical jolts.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 Feb. 2026
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
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
-
Animals’ risk of becoming roadkill depends on several factors, including how many vehicles are on the road, how many animals are on the road, and how animals and human drivers behave, explains Tom Langen, a professor of biology at Clarkson University, who studies animal-vehicle collisions.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The latest data collection from the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK) Collaboration reveals the universe is practically humming with gravitational waves from cosmic collisions.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But years of stockpiling could shield China from immediate supply shocks.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
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While the global market normally relies on spare capacity in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait to buffer against price shocks, Struyven explained that those barrels typically must flow through the Strait of Hormuz to reach global buyers.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
All of the ice cream is made in-house, with rotating flavors alongside vanilla and chocolate, plus a long list of sundaes, malts and shakes.—
Rachel Bernhard,
jsonline.com,
6 Mar. 2026
-
That does a remarkable job at shooting steady, stabilized video, even as the phone itself shakes or rotates dramatically.—
Dominic Preston,
The Verge,
4 Mar. 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
-
Mexico was one of the surprises in the previous edition, led by Randy Arozarena.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
One of the many surprises from the election included the election day turnout numbers, Holladay said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Mar. 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
-
According to the footage, Falcinelli then moves toward the officer before the officer yanks him by the arm.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Jolts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jolts. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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