jounce 1 of 2

noun

Definition of jouncenext
as in collision
a forceful coming together of two things we felt a definite jounce every time the car hit a pothole

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

jounce

2 of 2

verb

ˈjau̇n(t)s How to pronounce jounce (audio)
1
as in to shake
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements a rickety cart jouncing as it was being pulled over the cobblestoned streets

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to bob
to make short up-and-down movements her head jounced as the horse began to gallop

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of jounce
Noun
Additional front and rear jounce dampers help absorb the load after landing sweet jumps, while new braces on the trailer hitch help increase the tow rating to 4500 pounds. — Carlos Lago, Car and Driver, 24 Jan. 2022
Verb
Our lunch, a thermos of hot coffee, binoculars, a spotting scope, and two cameras jounced on the seat between us. — Robert Merchant, Outdoor Life, 1 Oct. 2025 Tailbone pain sometimes can arise after sitting on a hard surface for a long time, or sitting on an ill-fitting or jouncing seat. — Mayo Clinic, chicagotribune.com, 19 Aug. 2019 The frame shape and temple design must harmonize with your helmet lest the glasses jounce around or, worse, rub your skull wrong. — Aaron Gulley, Outside Online, 13 June 2018 This band has a rare instrumentation — tenor saxophone, tuba, two drummers — and a relentless, jouncing sound anchored in rhythms of the Caribbean. — Giovanni Russonello, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2018 Early mornings and midafternoons at Ranthambore see a restricted number of open-air vehicles shuttling tourists into the park to jounce along five dusty trail routes, each stretching a few miles. — Christopher Smith, Orange County Register, 11 May 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jounce
  1. collision
  2. shake
  3. bob
  4. jolt
  5. jerk
  6. pump
  7. thump
  8. shudder
Noun
  • This initiative aims to significantly reduce the state's high rate of wildlife-vehicle collisions, which ranks fifth nationally and contributes to the nation's highest auto insurance claims.
    — Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Officers with the Olathe Police Department were called to the area of West 159th Street and South Lone Elm Road upon reports of a head-on collision between a white SUV and a dump truck, according to a news release from Sgt.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of collision
Verb
  • The case exposed serious weaknesses in financial oversight and shook public confidence in institutions responsible for protecting taxpayer dollars.
    — Malia M Cohen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 July 2026
  • With the room shaking, the show’s producer, Bob Johnston, plotted a course toward the nearest group of guards.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026
Definition of shake
Verb
  • And that kind of thing didn’t happen in Mystic, a touristy escape from New York City complete with bobbing boats and sea lions doing tricks at the aquarium.
    — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026
  • Multiple saunas and cold plunge pools sit alongside hot pools right on deck, and the whole thing bobs gently while the harbor traffic goes by, which somehow makes the ritual feel more honest than any five-star spa could.
    — Winston Ross, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of bob
Noun
  • There are no lyrics, no mixing inconsistencies, no jolts of experimental hiss.
    — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026
  • Each bite released a jolt of salty, tangy, deeply savory marinade.
    — Ali Francis, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 July 2026
Definition of jolt
Verb
  • Nighttime in the Okefenokee is filled with a wild cacophony — the choruses of pig frogs, hooting owls, crickets and sometimes the deep, nerve-jerking bellowing of bull alligators.
    — Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 25 July 2026
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also advises against twisting or jerking the tick.
    — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 15 July 2026
Definition of jerk
Verb
  • Fans expecting a national championship need to pump their brakes a bit, but there is no excuse for this team and coaching staff not to at least make the big dance in 2026.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
  • The impact is especially significant for small-scale farmers, many of whom rely on diesel fuel to pump water, harvest crops and transport goods to market.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
Definition of pump
Noun
  • If the offense keeps doing just enough, and Breslow finds some more thump at the deadline, baseball’s hottest team could have staying power.
    — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • Duggan Borges gestures around the studio, that thump still coming through the ceiling.
    — Laura Snapes, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026
Definition of thump
Verb
  • Speaking to the media before England’s 3-2 victory over Mexico in the World Cup last 16, England manager Thomas Tuchel gave an update on Declan Rice that would make Arsenal fans shudder.
    — Nnamdi Onyeagwara, New York Times, 13 July 2026
  • These seemingly innocuous incidents attain new significance as they’re revisited alongside a slow crescendo that suddenly turns to shuddering piano chords on the track’s bridge.
    — Nick Ayres DeMasi, Pitchfork, 1 July 2026
Definition of shudder

Browse Nearby Words

jottings
jounce
jounced
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Jounce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jounce. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on jounce

Nglish: Translation of jounce for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of mitigate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All