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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
Taylor Swift will has likely shaken off another legal headache. Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Sep. 2025 Carini quit her Olympic bout against Khelif after just 46 seconds, as images of the Algerian's punches against Carini shook viewers across the world. Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
There are dessert items such as frozen custard, shakes, malts and other seasonal items. Cathy Kozlowicz, jsonline.com, 5 Sep. 2025 When Russell extended his hand for a shake in the closing moments, Perkins Johnson did not return the favor, instead asking him where his reports were. Charlotte Observer, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake
Verb
  • Andy sighed, shuddering between them.
    Bryan Washington, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The White House will be well aware of this fact, particularly in an environment where fiscally conservative Republicans will be shuddering at Uncle Sam’s $37 trillion (and growing) national debt.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • However, by sharing so much of Lisa's code, the interface practically demanded a pointing device, and the mouse was selected, even though Raskin had so carefully tried to avoid it.
    Cameron Kaiser, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
  • These writers will work under the latest Public Television Freelance Agreement, which the WGA East ratified in December after a lengthy and sometimes contentious negotiation cycle with PBS, narrowly avoiding a strike.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Some like to get to the airport very early, with time for a full picnic, while others are dashing in at the last minute while downing a protein bar.
    Jessie Beck, AFAR Media, 16 Sep. 2025
  • In April, Tien Kung Ultra became the first robot to finish a half-marathon, completing the 21-kilometer course in Beijing in 2 hours and 40 minutes.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Hank is a Dallas Cowboys diehard; the idea of Bobby getting into the Premier League sends him into full-body shivers.
    Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The quake hit at a depth of about 7 miles and was centered roughly 40 miles southeast of Athens, where tremors were felt but no immediate damage or injuries were reported.
    Shane Croucher John Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Like his home, they are now hollowed out reminders, and far worse than the quake.
    Johnny Fils-Aimé, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The president starts out by making a visit to Liberty Arena to play basketball with some school children, then gets jerked away when the crisis happens.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
  • If Hall jerked too violently, let alone tried to run, the wire would pull the trigger, firing the shotgun Kiritsis had pointed at the back of Hall’s head.
    Katie Rife, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Rather than provide food or temporary shelter for such workers in the colder months, municipalities would round them up and remove them, to save money and evade any responsibility to aid them.
    Time, Time, 16 Sep. 2025
  • In Milwaukee, Kellner said that around 33% of bus riders have evaded paying fares in 2025 but that the agency has identified a few cost-neutral strategies targeted at reducing fare evasion down to 30% by September 2026, the same rate of evasion busses saw in 2024.
    Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Examples of these processes can be found throughout nature, from the unpredictable rise and fall of stock market values to the irregular heartbeat cadence.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Using its optical heart sensor, the watch reviews how your blood vessels respond to heartbeats over 30-day periods.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Shake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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