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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in minute
a very small space of time
I'll be there in two shakes
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of shake
Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
Inmates executed by nitrogen gas have displayed various levels of shaking during the executions, and lawyers for the state and inmates have disagreed on whether those are involuntary or a sign of suffering.
—Kim Chandler, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 29 May 2026
The fries are still served with a 700-calorie shake.
—Cole Hanson, STAT, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake
Verb
Many rise to the level of law enforcement presence, criminal charges or restraining orders — and shake their sense of safety for themselves and their family.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
Inmates executed by nitrogen gas have displayed various levels of shaking during the executions, and lawyers for the state and inmates have disagreed on whether those are involuntary or a sign of suffering.
—Kim Chandler, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Noun
With 16x magnification and some of the strongest image stabilization available, these binoculars deliver detailed views of the moon without needing a tripod by completely eliminating hand-shake.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 29 May 2026
The fries are still served with a 700-calorie shake.
—Cole Hanson, STAT, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake
Verb
-
Nothing much really happens in this movie after Philip’s initial arrest, but the world viscerally shudders under Lucy’s feet every time one of her husband’s alibis falls apart.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
15 May 2026
-
That brewery is taking over Headflyer's space after closing its own Nordeast taproom in 2023, then shuddering entirely last year before rising from the ashes months later.—
Anthony Bettin,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Residents and visitors were urged to avoid the area as the investigation continues.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
7 June 2026
-
Residents and festivalgoers were urged to avoid the area and expect a significant law enforcement presence as officers continue their search and investigators work to determine what led to the shooting.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Marina Mall are just a 10-minute cab ride away.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
-
Sorry, this episode is an hour and forty-five minutes long?—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Economic shivers give both the fits, and a pressured consumer has both well in the red so far this year.—
Brett Owens,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
-
These insects and arachnids might startle you or send shivers down your spine, but there's no need to worry about these bugs—not too much, anyway.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
21 May 2026
Noun
-
The California Department of Conservation estimates that a major quake on the fault line occurs roughly every 140 years, making the fault line overdue.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
30 May 2026
-
Several residents reported feeling the quake in and around the Spring Valley area according to the USGS DYFI report.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
In the summer of 2020, former Morgan Stanley trader Adam Crawley was wandering through Indonesia, Thailand and Australia, perfecting his qigong with a man called Master YanG, when a cold message on LinkedIn jerked him back to reality.—
Phoebe Liu,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
Don’t twist or jerk the tick, which can cause the mouth to break off in your skin.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Capable of traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5 while maneuvering in flight, these weapons are designed to compress enemy reaction times and evade many traditional missile defense systems.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
31 May 2026
-
Aurora police said Belt-Stubblefield crashed into two vehicles while trying to evade the stop.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
According to the medical records, the former pro wrestler had a history of leukemia and atrial fibrillation, a common disorder that causes irregular heartbeats.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 June 2026
-
Your Heart May Feel the Effects Drinking diet soda may increase your risk of irregular heartbeat.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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