1
as in collisions
a forceful coming together of two things
the whole railway platform shook from the shock of the two trains colliding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in astonishments
the state of being strongly impressed by something unexpected or unusual
were in shock after they heard the news of the death of the president
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in appalls
to cause an unpleasant surprise for
Mom was shocked by the terrible news that her cousin had died in an accident I was shocked to find out that I was the victim of identity theft
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in surprises
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
were shocked by the way the law against public intoxication was constantly being broken
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in scares
to strike with fear
the sudden appearance of the ghost shocked us to the core
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shocks
Kristen Edgreen Kaufman, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Those who came under suspicion were taken unwillingly to a military hospital in Pretoria, cut off from their families, and subjected to electric shocks.
—Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
Bitcoin has been hailed as both a momentum and a debasement trade, whereby investors shift from currencies and sovereign bonds, which are vulnerable to political shocks, into haven assets such as gold and crypto.
—Phil Serafino, Bloomberg, 27 Jan. 2026
The week in Davos began with sharp market reactions and diplomatic shocks, and ended without clear resolution.
—Willem Marx, NPR, 23 Jan. 2026
In 2021, Heart Ego inflamed her sound with shocks of color and dance pop as energetic as Cowgirl Clue.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
On top of that, shocks from nature, such as pandemics and climate events, and waves of new technology disrupt economies and power structures.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
Europe can no longer rely on the old world order and must become independent as geopolitical shocks continue, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 20 Jan. 2026
An electric blanket is not a good choice for pets due to chewing that can lead to overheating or shocks.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2026
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 27 Jan. 2026
That can change if a patient has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, or ICD, which shocks the heart back to beating normally.
—Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Jan. 2026
Violence shocks neighbors Neighbors said the violence unfolded in just seconds.
—Andrew Ramos, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
Rather than comply, Deborah shocks everyone by telling the audience the truth and loses her show.
—Jenelle Riley, Variety, 6 Jan. 2026
The thing that outrages, the thing that shocks, the thing that elicits the greatest response, and the greatest response of all of those emotional reactions is outrage, is fear, is shock, is anger.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 2025
Attack shocks in nation with strict gun laws Australia has some of the world's strictest gun control measures, and mass shootings are relatively rare.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 15 Dec. 2025
Someone’s unexpected behavior might push you to set new boundaries or make a financial move that shocks even you.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
This novel is about an aging Brooklyn deacon shocks his community by shooting the local drug dealer in 1969.
—Kris Slugg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
These systems help ensure steady supplies for semiconductors, batteries and advanced manufacturing when trade restrictions, export controls or price shocks strain primary sources — allowing companies to manage costs and stay competitive.
—Kristen Edgreen Kaufman, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Those who came under suspicion were taken unwillingly to a military hospital in Pretoria, cut off from their families, and subjected to electric shocks.
—Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
Bitcoin has been hailed as both a momentum and a debasement trade, whereby investors shift from currencies and sovereign bonds, which are vulnerable to political shocks, into haven assets such as gold and crypto.
—Phil Serafino, Bloomberg, 27 Jan. 2026
The week in Davos began with sharp market reactions and diplomatic shocks, and ended without clear resolution.
—Willem Marx, NPR, 23 Jan. 2026
In 2021, Heart Ego inflamed her sound with shocks of color and dance pop as energetic as Cowgirl Clue.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
On top of that, shocks from nature, such as pandemics and climate events, and waves of new technology disrupt economies and power structures.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
Europe can no longer rely on the old world order and must become independent as geopolitical shocks continue, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 20 Jan. 2026
An electric blanket is not a good choice for pets due to chewing that can lead to overheating or shocks.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2026
Verb
That moment is similar to one in the show where another closeted hockey star, Scott Hunter (François Arnaud) shocks the world by kissing his secret boyfriend on center ice after winning a championship.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 27 Jan. 2026
That can change if a patient has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, or ICD, which shocks the heart back to beating normally.
—Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Jan. 2026
Violence shocks neighbors Neighbors said the violence unfolded in just seconds.
—Andrew Ramos, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
Rather than comply, Deborah shocks everyone by telling the audience the truth and loses her show.
—Jenelle Riley, Variety, 6 Jan. 2026
The thing that outrages, the thing that shocks, the thing that elicits the greatest response, and the greatest response of all of those emotional reactions is outrage, is fear, is shock, is anger.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 2025
Attack shocks in nation with strict gun laws Australia has some of the world's strictest gun control measures, and mass shootings are relatively rare.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 15 Dec. 2025
Someone’s unexpected behavior might push you to set new boundaries or make a financial move that shocks even you.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
This novel is about an aging Brooklyn deacon shocks his community by shooting the local drug dealer in 1969.
—Kris Slugg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shocks
Noun
-
Each of these impact sites stands testament to the violence of its creation — cataclysmic collisions that carved vast basins in the lunar surface, while hurling debris miles across the face of Earth's natural satellite.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Other tips for driving in snow Navigation apps like Google Maps, Apple Maps and Waze collect real-time information on traffic slowdowns and collisions.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
And the thing that hits is the thing that surprises you.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
So, there’s no number that surprises me anymore.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But for real chills and scares, the granddaddy The Blair Witch Project still is the crown jewel.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Is there somewhere that scares you?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Twenty hinge-pipe beams were installed inside segments of the roadway, which allow the bridge deck to flex and slide back and forth as the temperature changes or ground shakes, but prevent lateral, side-to-side jolts that could jeopardize the bridge’s integrity.—
Katie Lauer,
Mercury News,
22 Dec. 2025
-
The archipelago, home to around 125 million people, experiences around 1,500 jolts every year.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
What amazes me is how good human beings can be in a crisis.—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
21 Nov. 2025
-
What amazes her is how someone chose to save these items and hang on to them for future generations.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Baker says what frightens her most is whether younger generations will ever be able to step off that wheel — to build generational wealth through homeownership.—
Elizabeth Prann,
The Hill,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Within my book, one of the things that frightens me most is the fact that with censorship, there’s often not a clear red line, right?—
Fiction Non Fiction
October 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Investors are watching specific themes, including state-run companies, defense, roads and railways, and brokerages and exchanges, for potential impacts from the budget.—
Ashutosh Joshi,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Witnessing deaths may be especially traumatic Research has shown that mental health impacts are even more profound when someone's unexpected death is witnessed and shared.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Nicole Kidman stuns in an orange ensemble while in Paris, as Diane Kruger and Norman Reedus have a rare date night at the Armani Privé show during Paris Fashion Week.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The versatile shade stuns on its own, layered under chrome, or baked into a design.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shocks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shocks. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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