as in earthquake
a shaking of the earth
the quake registered 6.5 on the Richter scale, causing widespread damage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Jon Haworth, ABC News, 23 Apr. 2025
The quake shook the area beginning at 10:13 a.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
In this puzzle, however, the things that are shaking are quaking ASPENS.
—Deb Amlen, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for quake
Noun
The quake occurred at a depth of just 6.2 miles with the epicenter of the quake located approximately 14 miles southeast of Marmara Ereğlisi and 70 miles west of Istanbul.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 23 Apr. 2025
The quake shook the area beginning at 10:13 a.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Verb
From a distance, Macdonald’s own life has the shudder of a dark fairy tale, answered by the quaking in his books.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
In this puzzle, however, the things that are shaking are quaking ASPENS.
—Deb Amlen, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for quake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quake
Noun
-
Even temporary exemptions, like those issued after the 2023 earthquake, have had limited effect due to over-compliance by global banks and businesses.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 May 2025
-
Masudi,also helped coordinate disaster aid after the 2023 earthquake in the Herat Province, was one of the recipients of the Diana Award in 2024.—
Rana Wehbe Watson,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
Verb
-
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 10 contestant Phoenix's drama with Ice Spice must've stirred too much after the season 3 queen clapped back against the guest judge's Main Stage critiques about her icon status, but the Drag Race OG hopes the rapper isn't too shaken in the aftermath.—
Joey Nolfi Published,
EW.com,
17 May 2025
-
Stewart is among several traffic controllers on trauma leave, including some who were shaken by the blackouts, which left them unable to talk to planes or see where they were located.—
Amanda Musa,
CNN Money,
16 May 2025
Noun
-
Initial symptoms are tremors or other involuntary movements.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
People.com,
13 May 2025
-
The Virginia Tech Seismological Observatory, located a mile away, detected tremors during the set and later confirmed that the crowd had, quite literally, shaken the earth.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
12 May 2025
Verb
-
One shudders to think how Ross, whom Grant divorced in 1929, and who died in 1951, would have reacted to so echoing a lack.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
5 May 2025
-
The sound seemed to shudder like a pot about to blow its lid.—
Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Verb
-
Earthquakes cause the ground to move in unpredictable ways, sometimes sharply jerking, other times swaying like a ship in rough seas.—
Maya Wei-Haas,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Confused Lochlan, who thoughtfully jerked off his older brother so that Saxon wouldn’t feel left out.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Many episodes later, as Dedra suffers a crushing setback, Gough performs her attempts to choke back tears and still her trembling hands with an almost violent desperation.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Lydia, who – based on her trembling lips – seems to be in poor health, continues to plead with Lawrence.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The extraordinary source material is a profound inspiration to build a unique world that vibrates with life and death at the same time.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
16 May 2025
-
Many ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers—humidifiers that vibrate to make mist—can lower water mineralization and bacterial growth.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
There’s quivering and shoving, growling and purring.—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
24 Apr. 2025
-
The journalist raised her hand, and her voice quivered in seeming alarm as the 6.2-magnitude quake shook Istanbul shortly before 1 p.m. local time on Wednesday, April 23.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
People.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Quake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quake. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share