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
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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
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
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
-
To sail through the strait without being detected by Iran, many ships are turning off their Automatic Identification Systems, which are navigational beacons that broadcast their positions to avoid collisions.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
-
Human encroachment on wildlife habitat — along with other threats such as car collisions, rat poison and disease — are threatening the population across the state.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Europe is particularly vulnerable to energy shocks as a major net energy importer.—
Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
2 June 2026
-
The years since 2020 can be read as a sequence of shocks.—
Dr. Aditya Vikram Kashyap,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
The Moon, planet of our emotions, lifts your 10th House of Career, while innovative Uranus shakes your 4th House of Home and Family.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
30 May 2026
-
The ones that are accepted are run through a machine that shakes the envelopes — this makes the ballot sink to the bottom of the envelope — and slices them open.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
28 May 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
-
Tuesday’s primary elections across six states brought some surprises and history-making results, but now all eyes are on California as the results of the state’s primary are still coming in on Wednesday.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
-
Were the surprises still intact?—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Hotels used in talks last week have already asked patrons leave as the country shudders into another quasi-lockdown.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
19 Apr. 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 7 Jun. 2026.
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