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
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Recent Examples of shake
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
In 2024, Disney beat down a proxy challenge by billionaire activist investor Nelson Peltz, whose Trian Partners ran two candidate for election to the Disney board — himself and former Mouse executive Jay Rasulo, to shake things up.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 12 Jan. 2026
Amanda Hancock, Louisville Courier Journal, 13 Jan. 2026
Both earned top marks in our taste test of bottled protein shakes.
—Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake
Verb
Only weeks earlier, the city had been shaken by the murder of Caroline Isenberg, a recent Harvard graduate and an aspiring actress who was attacked and dragged to the rooftop of her West End Avenue apartment building by Emmanuel Torres, the twenty-two-year-old son of its superintendent.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
In 2024, Disney beat down a proxy challenge by billionaire activist investor Nelson Peltz, whose Trian Partners ran two candidate for election to the Disney board — himself and former Mouse executive Jay Rasulo, to shake things up.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 12 Jan. 2026
Noun
Locations have followed in nearby cities such as Cincinnati and Indianapolis, meaning a SmokeShack or strawberry custard shake was always at least an hour away for Louisville residents.
—Amanda Hancock, Louisville Courier Journal, 13 Jan. 2026
Both earned top marks in our taste test of bottled protein shakes.
—Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake
Verb
-
Williams thinks enough of himself to be himself, to keep his nails painted, to mimic crowning himself like LeBron James after big plays at USC, to graduate to his current too-cool-for-you celebratory shudder; the Iceman cometh, the Iceman runneth over.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
16 Jan. 2026
-
The mind shudders at the thought.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
To avoid this dilemma, my aunt always travels with a portable power bank like this slim option from Anker.—
Stephanie Gray,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Learn how to properly thaw frozen pipes, and how to avoid them in the first place.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
If dealing with persistent scum, create a paste using vinegar and baking soda, apply it, and leave it for 20 minutes before wiping it clean.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Minnesota’s zone defense stymied the Badgers at the end of the half, with nine straight stops including five turnovers and zero points over the final five minutes for a 35-28 lead.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For more cold-climate shivers also see Finnish Weird, a quirky and often surprisingly spooky literary trove from the lands of the midnight sun.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Dec. 2025
-
And at the same time, while the East shivers, much of the West will bask under unusually mild to even warm weather.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
These aftershocks are usually less violent than the main quake, but not always.—
Pat Harvey,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Those who felt the quake are encouraged to report it via the USGS Felt Report form.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Aisha jerked and opened her eyes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
-
That jerking motion, combined with detergent and water, loosens dirt from the surfaces of clothing.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Davis faces three counts of first-degree assault and a single count each of second-degree manslaughter, evading responsibility involving a death, reckless driving and failure to drive in the proper lane.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Ashton Hill, 17, was charged with discharge of a firearm in certain municipalities, evading arrest, riot participation, possession of marijuana under two ounces in a drug-free zone and possession of CS PG2 under one gram.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
One of the main heartbeats of the defense, Dean made a midseason comeback from knee surgery.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The Broncos are back in the playoffs for a second consecutive season, one game closer to Super Bowl LX, and a legitimate contender because Nix has played with a slow heartbeat in the fourth quarter.—
Troy Renck The Denver Post,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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