shake 1 of 2

Definition of shakenext

shake

2 of 2

noun

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
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
  • The series opens as City’s record-breaking run of 26 games unbeaten comes to a shuddering halt, with a string of defeats in late 2024 leaving Guardiola visibly shaken.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 8 June 2026
  • The American flag has never been among those Davis shudders to make.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 6 June 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
  • The 79th Tony Awards telecast kicked off with a bang by giving out two major awards in the first 30 minutes — and before viewers could blink both John Lithgow and Laurie Metcalf had each won the third Tony Award of their careers.
    Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
  • His 75-minute-long tours feel less like being talked at and more like movable feasts of sights and storytelling.
    Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 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
  • Photos from the local information office in General Santos City, which has about 720,000 people, showed convenience stores and buildings crumbling in the aftermath of the quake.
    Kathleen Magramo, CNN Money, 8 June 2026
  • By about five hours after the quake struck, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the threat of a tsunami had largely passed.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
Verb
  • Physical tics can be as subtle as eye blinking, or involve jerking the arms, or stretching the neck.
    Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • Emmett holds the two men at gunpoint and instructs them to transport him to a specific location to evade capture.
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026
  • Johnson evaded questions Friday afternoon from reporters who tried to talk to him about the Bears situation at an event at the Chicago Cultural Center honoring the city’s Puerto Rican community.
    Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 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

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Cite this Entry

“Shake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.

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