quake 1 of 2

noun

Definition of quakenext
as in earthquake
a shaking of the earth the quake registered 6.5 on the Richter scale, causing widespread damage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

quake

2 of 2

verb

ˈkwāk How to pronounce quake (audio)
as in to shake
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements the horror film was so scary it left us quaking with fear for hours afterwards

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 quake
Noun
Witnesses said the explosion shook the area as much as the quake. — Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 Residents in the areas that felt the biggest tremors ​must beware of further strong quakes for about a week as well as the risk of landslides, an official for the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. — CNN Money, 28 July 2026
Verb
Rock big enough to quake an indoor stadium. — Brendan Hay, SPIN, 13 Apr. 2026 By 2020, another part of the island nation, the Reykjanes Peninsula, had begun to quake. — Quanta Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for quake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quake
  1. earthquake
  2. shake
  3. tremor
  4. shudder
  5. jerk
  6. tremble
  7. vibrate
  8. quiver
Noun
  • What began as one employee's devastating loss quickly grew into a community-wide effort to help earthquake victims in Venezuela.
    — Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • Venezuela’s fragile health care system had been deteriorating for years before two powerful earthquakes rattled the South American nation last month, killing more than 5,000 people and further exacerbating its ongoing health crisis.
    — Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 31 July 2026
Definition of earthquake
Verb
  • The heat now poses an additional danger to residents still shaken by the quake, many of whom are sleeping in their cars after their homes were damaged or destroyed.
    — Yumi Asada, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Chad Gable and Penta shook hands as Gable’s family watched from ringside.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of shake
Noun
  • More than 500 people from as far away as Pleasanton and Glenbrook, Nevada, reported feeling the tremor to the agency.
    — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2026
  • Residents in the areas that felt the biggest tremors ​must beware of further strong quakes for about a week as well as the risk of landslides, an official for the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
Definition of tremor
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
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
  • Back in their dorm room after the beating, Valentine watched as Okeadu began to tremble uncontrollably.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 June 2026
  • Each time the leaves trembled, the sunlight filtering through them also wavered.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
Definition of tremble
Verb
  • The mouth fiddle belongs to a family of instruments that are orally modulated, lending qualities of the human voice to the sound waves emitted by a vibrating string.
    — Jonathon Keats, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • So make sure to put your phone on silent or vibrate or turn it off.
    — Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
Definition of vibrate
Verb
  • But each of its eight-and-a-half minutes introduces a subtle mutation, rotating buzzing electronics and quivering guitars into the spotlight.
    — Arman Khan, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Even now, there are moments during presentations when my voice still quivers.
    — Michelle De Almeida, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of quiver

Browse Nearby Words

quais
quake
quaked
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Quake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quake. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on quake

Nglish: Translation of quake 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!

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