as in earthquakes
a shaking of the earth
the quake registered 6.5 on the Richter scale, causing widespread damage
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in shakes
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
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Recent Examples of quakes
Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Those Apollo-era seismometers revealed that the moon is surprisingly active, recording thousands of quakes between 1969 and 1977 — but the tools were heavy, expensive and limited in reach.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Rapid drops in temperature like these can lead to frost quakes, ice quakes and lake quakes.
—Tammie Souza, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
The quakes all had epicenters around Alcosta Boulevard in San Ramon.
—Sarah Ravani, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Feb. 2026
Ice quakes take place in glaciers or in lake ice.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 Jan. 2026
But San Ramon is special, Minson said, and swarms of small quakes happen there roughly once a decade on average.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2026
Noun
Seismic activity in the area is limited, but USGS data show similar quakes have occurred within 5 to 10 miles over time.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Those Apollo-era seismometers revealed that the moon is surprisingly active, recording thousands of quakes between 1969 and 1977 — but the tools were heavy, expensive and limited in reach.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Rapid drops in temperature like these can lead to frost quakes, ice quakes and lake quakes.
—Tammie Souza, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
The quakes all had epicenters around Alcosta Boulevard in San Ramon.
—Sarah Ravani, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Feb. 2026
Ice quakes take place in glaciers or in lake ice.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 Jan. 2026
But San Ramon is special, Minson said, and swarms of small quakes happen there roughly once a decade on average.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quakes
Noun
-
It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Hot on the Trail For decades, scientists have used earthquakes to track magma, but the work was often slow and imprecise.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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From Monday to Friday, the reception area will serve as a nutrition center for athletes, offering smoothies, protein shakes, granola and anything else an athlete could need.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The company, founded in 1980, is best known for its meal replacements, protein shakes, nutritional teas and vitamins.—
Noor Lobad,
Footwear News,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Without tectonic plates, the moon's tremors are driven by tidal forces from Earth, meteorite impacts and extreme temperature swings as the lunar surface heats and cools.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
24 Mar. 2026
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More than 130 people from as far away as Esparto and San Francisco reported feeling the tremors to the agency.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The mind shudders at the thought.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
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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
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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
Verb
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There's real grit underneath the shag haircut and thigh-high boots, though; see the discotheque scene, where her entire body vibrates with a desperate mix of hope, terror, and determination.—
Darren Franich,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
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Taken from a Kamikaze menu Garcia created for Huerta’s birthday, the tom yum aguachile vibrates with heat under a canopy of fresh tortilla chips shaped like half moons.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The music of home often quivers with nostalgia.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
22 Sep. 2025
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There’s a breathless mood in the air that quivers and quakes at the protests to come.—
Sara Stridsberg
September 15,
Literary Hub,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Quakes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quakes. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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