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
Tammie Souza, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
Frost quakes occur when the ground rapidly freezes and expands, creating a loud booming sound and sometimes minor, localized shaking.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 Jan. 2026
And since the swarm began in November, the mini-quakes have caused no damage or injuries, San Ramon Mayor Mark Armstrong said Monday.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2026
According to AccuWeather, frost quakes, also sometimes called icequakes, are seismic events caused by a sudden cracking action in frozen soil or rock saturated with water or ice.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Frost quakes are known to commonly occur in Alaska, Canada, the northeastern United States and Iceland, according to AccuWeather.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Fernando, who normally studies quakes on the moon and Mars, teamed up with Imperial College London’s Constantinos Charalambous the day after the Chinese debris streaked across the California sky in 2024.
—Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
Rapid drops in temperature like these can lead to frost quakes, ice quakes and lake quakes.
—Tammie Souza, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
Frost quakes occur when the ground rapidly freezes and expands, creating a loud booming sound and sometimes minor, localized shaking.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 Jan. 2026
And since the swarm began in November, the mini-quakes have caused no damage or injuries, San Ramon Mayor Mark Armstrong said Monday.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2026
According to AccuWeather, frost quakes, also sometimes called icequakes, are seismic events caused by a sudden cracking action in frozen soil or rock saturated with water or ice.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Frost quakes are known to commonly occur in Alaska, Canada, the northeastern United States and Iceland, according to AccuWeather.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Fernando, who normally studies quakes on the moon and Mars, teamed up with Imperial College London’s Constantinos Charalambous the day after the Chinese debris streaked across the California sky in 2024.
—Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 22 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,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The Arabian and Eurasian plates continue to move toward each other at around 20 millimeters a year, sometimes triggering deadly earthquakes.—
Stephanie Pappas,
Scientific American,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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All of the ice cream is made in-house, with rotating flavors alongside vanilla and chocolate, plus a long list of sundaes, malts and shakes.—
Rachel Bernhard,
jsonline.com,
6 Mar. 2026
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That does a remarkable job at shooting steady, stabilized video, even as the phone itself shakes or rotates dramatically.—
Dominic Preston,
The Verge,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Shifting comments from the Republican president and his top aides are adding to the precariousness of the 12-day-old conflict, which is impacting nearly every corner of the Middle East and causing economic tremors around the globe.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The political tremors triggered by the ballot measure already have reshaped California’s political landscape.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The mind shudders at the thought.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
-
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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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
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The video suddenly jerks away as the vehicle starts to move and shots can be heard.—
Nicole Sganga,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
-
There is a high whistling sound of wind rushing through the room, and the glass vibrates slightly.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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 12 Mar. 2026.
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