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
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
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
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
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
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
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
-
Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin appeared to get banged up from a series of collisions and was in obvious pain on the bench in the second.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Sadly, it’s estimated that more than 100 million to one billion birds die every year in collisions with manmade structures.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Analysts partially credit the stability to a mature domestic biofuels industry that allows the country to withstand geopolitical shocks with minimal risk of fuel shortages.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
That conflict has caused cascading global energy shocks as Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz and effectively cut off a fifth of the world’s oil supply, and Middle Eastern countries have bombed each other’s oil and gas infrastructure.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Hayden, working the grill behind her husband, laughs and shakes her head with a slight eye roll the way only a loving wife can.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Apr. 2026
-
In the process, the capsule shakes pretty aggressively.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 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
-
In Guyana’s capital city of Georgetown, neighbors can still hear the thumps.—
Tyler Jett,
Des Moines Register,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
With only a fraction of the boxes catalogued, there will undoubtedly be more surprises in store for archaeologists at the Valkhof Museum.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The hosts talk about any surprises on the list, and also who would be the first of the current list to drop out of the top five.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
2 Apr. 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 5 Apr. 2026.
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