SHAKEN Synonyms: 95 Similar and Opposite Words

shaken

verb

past participle of shake

as in shuddered

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

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as in escaped

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

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 shaken The heat now poses an additional danger to residents still shaken by the quake, many of whom are sleeping in their cars after their homes were damaged or destroyed. — Yumi Asada, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026 Linebacker Devin Bush laid the wood on Burden, which left the receiver shaken. — Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 They were quickly cleared of any wrongdoing but Pete Buttigieg admitted he was shaken by the experience. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026 None of these repercussions have shaken the Party’s belief in the transformative power of engineering. — Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 People shaken from their houses, their sheer density always surprising out in the open. — Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026 Wave attacker Kimmi Ascanio left due to injury in the 62nd minute, visibly shaken and limping off the field. — ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026 Close to home Gamino Padilla’s quiet life was shaken this June. — Idaho Statesman, 31 July 2026 The incident led to many questions of the Louvre’s security and left the citizens of France shaken. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 22 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaken

Verb

The way the stadium shuddered with noise.

— Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 7 May 2026
At least the elevator still creaked and shuddered, as in the old days, finally trembling open on the eighth floor.

— Rick Bragg, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026

Definition of shuddered

Verb

This incident highlights a systemic issue where millions in USDT have escaped freezes, as confirmed by multiple on-chain analytics firms like BitOK.

— Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
In 2023 Flaco, a Eurasian Eagle Owl, escaped his enclosure at the Central Park Zoo.

— Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of escaped

Verb

Once the squid gather near the surface, lines fitted with bait are lowered into the water and rapidly jerked up and down to imitate small prey such as shrimp, triggering strikes before the catch is reeled aboard.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 20 June 2026
Suddenly, the tent jerked and wobbled.

— Dolores Brown, Outdoor Life, 17 June 2026

Definition of jerked

Verb

The ball evaded him and reached Brobbey, but the striker could not control in the ocean of space he was left in.

— Beren Cross, New York Times, 31 July 2026
Shortly before the shooting, agents were investigating two Guatemalan men known to be driving a white van who had previously evaded arrest and were potentially subject to deportation, the US attorney for Texas’ southern district said.

— Ashley Killough, CNN Money, 30 July 2026

Definition of evaded

Verb

Hosts from Joe Rogan to Alex Cooper have weighed in on—and perhaps have even swayed—elections.

— Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Either way, there’s a lot on the line for Dodge, as millions of enthusiasts’ opinions about the Charger will be swayed one way or another by the end of it.

— Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 30 July 2026

Definition of swayed

Verb

Against the latter, the Braves avoided a sweep with a 2-1 victory in 10 innings Sunday.

— Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Kyle Schwarber hit two home runs, Derek Hill singled with the bases loaded in the 12th inning and the Philadelphia Phillies avoided a three-game series sweep with a 7-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.

— CBS News, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026