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
Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Regional tsunami warnings have since been cancelled, according to Reuters, but the pair of quakes left behind damage to buildings and roads.
—Jillian Frankel, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
The Philippines is prone to natural disasters because of its location along the Ring of Fire, a 25,000-mile (40,000-kilometer) arc of seismic fault lines around the Pacific Ocean home to more than half of the world’s volcanoes, and regularly experiences powerful quakes.
—Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
Indonesia has a history of catastrophic quakes, including the 2004 Indian Ocean disaster, making continuous seismic monitoring and preparedness crucial for minimizing casualties and infrastructure damage.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Regional tsunami warnings have since been cancelled, according to Reuters, but the pair of quakes left behind damage to buildings and roads.
—Jillian Frankel, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
The Philippines is prone to natural disasters because of its location along the Ring of Fire, a 25,000-mile (40,000-kilometer) arc of seismic fault lines around the Pacific Ocean home to more than half of the world’s volcanoes, and regularly experiences powerful quakes.
—Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quakes
Noun
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It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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Last month, at least seven earthquakes rattled the coast of Alaska in a span of 24 hours.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Where to Eat Breakfast Coffee lovers will want to fuel up for a day exploring Coconut Creek at Cali Coffee, a South Florida drive-thru coffee chain known for its frozen drinks, refreshers, shakes, and more.—
Skye Sherman,
Southern Living,
10 Nov. 2025
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Advertisement Back at the bookstore, the hilarity gives way to a confrontation that shakes Lee to his core.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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But for some people, the supplement has been linked to various side effects including headaches, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, stomach aches, confusion or disorientation, tremors, low blood pressure, irritability, mild anxiety and depression.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
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The signs of bird flu in dogs and cats include fever, lethargy, low appetite, red or inflamed eyes, discharge from eyes and nose, coughing or sneezing, difficulty breathing and neurologic signs such as tremors, seizures, incoordination or blindness, according to the AVMA.—
Laura Schulte,
jsonline.com,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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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Paul goes to shake her hand but jerks it back, then gives her a left-handed handshake.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This includes the addition of a thin, flat membrane called a diaphragm that vibrates and amplifies sound.—
Joshua Hutcheson,
The Conversation,
16 Oct. 2025
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This whole fictional world vibrates on Robinson’s bizarre frequency, which means Ron may just be onto something.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
9 Oct. 2025
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 17 Nov. 2025.
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