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shake

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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
The loss of more than 100 lives, many of them children, to Hill Country floods over the July Fourth weekend has shaken Texans to the core. Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 12 July 2025 RBIs used to matter most, but computers shake their screens. Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2025
Noun
Before tossing beach towels or mats in the washer, give each piece a good shake outside. Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 June 2025 To capture the photo above, the drone was set to hover in low-wind conditions to avoid camera shake during the long exposure. James Abbott, Space.com, 22 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for shake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake
Verb
  • All those sharp tool and drills are enough to make anyone shudder.
    Marilyn La Jeunesse, Parents, 9 July 2025
  • When only two vehicles remain on the far edge of the lot, the woman twists the key in the ignition and the idling car shudders still.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • For efficient and safe removal, residents should avoid stacking debris near trees, utility poles, mailboxes, fire hydrants, or meters.
    Robbie Farias, Austin American Statesman, 12 July 2025
  • Together, the groups have created a high-tech stage in the upper stands, to avoid potentially damaging the pitch at halftime of such an important game, featuring 40,000 pounds of gear, scenery and structural trusses.
    Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 12 July 2025
Noun
  • You’re asked to meet with senior leadership for the very first time—in five minutes.
    Michele Moreno, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • Follow that with a dip in the sea at Lia beach—a four minute walk away—or book a pottery class through one of the hotel’s artisan partners.
    Monica Mendal, Vogue, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • Even if landslides don’t occur during the quake itself, the ground may be weakened, leaving it primed for failure during later rainstorms.
    Brian J. Yanites, The Conversation, 26 June 2025
  • The quake is a certainty, but could be hundreds of years off.
    Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 25 May 2025
Verb
  • Having already had to navigate a 180-degree turn around a roundabout at 80km per hour, the road jerked to the left with around 1.6km remaining and, with some riders forced wide, the group was split.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 12 July 2025
  • The passenger jerked forward and their belongings were thrown to the floor.
    Abhirup Roy, USA Today, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Dexter stalks his next victim (Marc Menchaca) — a killer who targets ride-share drivers — while the ghost of his father Harry (James Remar) urges him to be careful, and a fidgety Harrison tries to evade police suspicions.
    EW.com, EW.com, 10 July 2025
  • Ten people involved in the ambush were arrested that night or early the next morning, but Song evaded capture, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • Independent bookstores are the heartbeats of their communities.
    American Booksellers Association, USA Today, 13 July 2025
  • Intimacy is the heartbeat of a thriving relationship.
    Chamin Ajjan, CNBC, 12 July 2025
Noun
  • On Alaska's Kenai Peninsula, a flurry of small earthquakes shook the Iliamna volcano on June 15.
    Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 14 July 2025
  • While much of America has moved past COVID-19, the pandemic that hit the industry like an earthquake continues to experience aftershocks.
    Alexander Coolidge, The Enquirer, 13 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Shake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

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