shake 1 of 2

verb

ˈshāk How to pronounce shake (audio)
Definition of shakenext
1
as in to shudder
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements the bus rattled and shook as it barreled down a rutted road

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2
as in to avoid
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery we shook our pursuers by cutting through the abandoned lot

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shake

2 of 2

noun

1
as in minute
a very small space of time I'll be there in two shakes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shivers
shakes plural a sense of panic or extreme nervousness I get the shakes every time I hear her voice

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in quake
a shaking of the earth the shake was a modest 3.1 on the Richter scale

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word shake different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of shake are agitate, convulse, and rock. While all these words mean "to move up and down or to and fro with some violence," shake often carries a further implication of a particular purpose.

shake well before using

When could agitate be used to replace shake?

The words agitate and shake can be used in similar contexts, but agitate suggests a violent and prolonged tossing or stirring.

an ocean agitated by storms

When can convulse be used instead of shake?

The words convulse and shake are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, convulse suggests a violent pulling or wrenching as of a body in a paroxysm.

spectators were convulsed with laughter

When might rock be a better fit than shake?

In some situations, the words rock and shake are roughly equivalent. However, rock suggests a swinging or swaying motion resulting from violent impact or upheaval.

the whole city was rocked by the explosion

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 shake
Verb
Shallow earthquakes do lead to more shaking being felt at the surface, though. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026 Months after tragedy shook NASCAR and the sports world at large, the public will get a chance to celebrate Kyle Busch in one place. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026
Noun
Zook Cabins The exterior is finished in LP lap siding, with cedar shake accents, plus a metal roof. — New Atlas, 26 Sep. 2026 The menu also lists protein shakes, matcha, coffee and smoothies as well as acai bowls, sandwiches and breakfast bowls. — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake
  1. shudder
  2. avoid
  3. minute
  4. shivers
  5. quake
  6. jerk
  7. evade
  8. heartbeat
Verb
  • Conservatives shuddered to think how close the country had come to permanent entangling alliances.
    — Beverly Gage, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
  • McDonald’s shares fell nearly 5% Wednesday, their largest percentage drop since April 2025, as investors shuddered at the eye-popping price of improving McDonald’s 46,000 global stores.
    — Dee-Ann Durbin, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of shudder
Verb
  • Recently, A'ja Wilson charged aggressively toward a fan in the stands and avoided a suspension.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The group chose roads that would keep them moving, avoiding excessive stop-start riding at traffic lights and intersections wherever possible.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of avoid
Noun
  • Over the record’s 33 minutes, Holden delivers an outstanding addition to his catalog that’s as absorbing and realist as any rap album this year.
    — Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The nearly six-minute film shows how the team combines precision machining, assembly, and repair to accelerate robot development.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of minute
Noun
  • The idea of seeing a total solar eclipse there sent shivers through me.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The country’s steady release of AI models that are open-source, high-performing, and relatively cheap to build and run has been sending shivers through Silicon Valley and Wall Street.
    — Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of shivers
Noun
  • Residents reported experiencing the quake in a number of cities, such as Murrieta, Winchester, Menifee, San Jacinto and Hemet according to the USGS DYFI report.
    — CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The threat of tsunami has likely largely receded, says USGS seismologist Susan Hough, as the quake occurred on land and happened at a relatively shallow depth.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of quake
Verb
  • During the test, Linton jerked and twitched in what prosecutors described as an attempt to fake a seizure.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • And like any great sitcom, Friends runs the gamut from numbing brain-rot to tear-jerking sentimentality.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of jerk
Verb
  • The new Marvel series will see the hero grapple with his identity and humanity while evading a bounty hunter and reuniting with his son.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Last year, a Houthi missile evaded Israel’s vaunted air defenses and impacted near Ben Gurion airport.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of evade
Noun
  • Focusing on something introspective, such as breath, heartbeat or a growing and shrinking dot, can induce a near-hypnotic state that clears the mind.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Focusing on something introspective, like your breath, your heartbeat or a growing and shrinking dot, can induce an almost hypnotic state that clears the mind.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of heartbeat

Phrases Containing shake

Browse Nearby Words

shakable
shake
shake a leg
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Cite this Entry

“Shake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on shake

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shake

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