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
Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
These jets can help scientists better understand how black holes help shape galaxies and other cosmic structures through large-scale shocks and turbulence.
—Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Waking up to a frozen account via a bank levy is one of the more jarring financial shocks a person can experience.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
Sometimes this process can play out over time, allowing people to adjust their purchasing or activities to dampen price shocks.
—Tibor Besedeš, The Conversation, 20 Apr. 2026
Letsetja Kganyago’s comments at Semafor World Economy in Washington, DC, open up the possibility of interest rate hikes before fuel and fertilizer shocks bleed into wages, transport, and broader price-setting behavior.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 17 Apr. 2026
According to the researchers, the results suggest that the electrical shocks weren't just triggering muscular contractions but also causing pain for the lobsters, a pain that was diminished by the use of painkillers.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
But a credit crunch would only amplify the various other shocks business leaders are grappling with now — like the soaring cost of fuel, uncertainty about the future of tariffs and stubborn inflation.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026
Shares have edged down more than 2% since the Iran war began, fueled by concerns about rising shipping costs and potential supply shocks.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026
Ryan Bearss, The Conversation, 20 Apr. 2026
There are revelations aplenty, shocks too, and dozens of motel breakfasts, all in search of the holy grail, which, in most cases, is represented by a full scholarship to a Division 1 college or university.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
As the energy shocks from the Iran war reverberate worldwide, countries like Egypt are left dealing with the consequences.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Energy shocks in the 1970s were associated with global recessions and persistent inflationary pressures.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
His statement threatening to eradicate an entire civilization shocks the conscience and requires a decisive congressional response.
—Eric McDaniel, NPR, 7 Apr. 2026
Stabbing shocks Olathe community Officers responded around noon March 19 to the 1000 block of North Ridgeview Road after reports of an armed disurbance.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2026
Two years later, an eerily similar crime shocks the city—this time involving the son of Chief of Police Greg Lamar (Raymond-James).
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2026
The pacing could be tauter and shocks more visceral, but the film keeps us intrigued enough.
—Bob Strauss, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
During the great financial crisis—when shocks hit our economy, unemployment spiked, our economic system faced collapse, and America’s standing in the world was scrutinized—our central bank played an indispensable role.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
These jets can help scientists better understand how black holes help shape galaxies and other cosmic structures through large-scale shocks and turbulence.
—Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Waking up to a frozen account via a bank levy is one of the more jarring financial shocks a person can experience.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
Sometimes this process can play out over time, allowing people to adjust their purchasing or activities to dampen price shocks.
—Tibor Besedeš, The Conversation, 20 Apr. 2026
Letsetja Kganyago’s comments at Semafor World Economy in Washington, DC, open up the possibility of interest rate hikes before fuel and fertilizer shocks bleed into wages, transport, and broader price-setting behavior.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 17 Apr. 2026
According to the researchers, the results suggest that the electrical shocks weren't just triggering muscular contractions but also causing pain for the lobsters, a pain that was diminished by the use of painkillers.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
But a credit crunch would only amplify the various other shocks business leaders are grappling with now — like the soaring cost of fuel, uncertainty about the future of tariffs and stubborn inflation.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026
Shares have edged down more than 2% since the Iran war began, fueled by concerns about rising shipping costs and potential supply shocks.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
When harvested, the roots are cut, which shocks the plant and can delay root reestablishment for several weeks.
—Ryan Bearss, The Conversation, 20 Apr. 2026
There are revelations aplenty, shocks too, and dozens of motel breakfasts, all in search of the holy grail, which, in most cases, is represented by a full scholarship to a Division 1 college or university.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
As the energy shocks from the Iran war reverberate worldwide, countries like Egypt are left dealing with the consequences.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Energy shocks in the 1970s were associated with global recessions and persistent inflationary pressures.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
His statement threatening to eradicate an entire civilization shocks the conscience and requires a decisive congressional response.
—Eric McDaniel, NPR, 7 Apr. 2026
Stabbing shocks Olathe community Officers responded around noon March 19 to the 1000 block of North Ridgeview Road after reports of an armed disurbance.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2026
Two years later, an eerily similar crime shocks the city—this time involving the son of Chief of Police Greg Lamar (Raymond-James).
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2026
The pacing could be tauter and shocks more visceral, but the film keeps us intrigued enough.
—Bob Strauss, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shocks
Noun
-
None of the four fatal crashes occurred within the project’s limits, but four separate collisions in the half-mile stretch have killed people since 2017.—
Chris Fusco. Story produced with AI assistance,
Sacbee.com,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Airport officials didn't respond immediately to questions about what happened and what procedures are in place to prevent collisions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Oscars, airing March 2 on ABC and streaming live on Hulu, will offer up kudos for some of these astonishments.—
Peter Rainer,
Christian Science Monitor,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The Shrivers’ lasting influence still surprises their children.—
Liz McNeil,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Nothing surprises you at Forest, but the Pereira situation feels relatively settled at present.—
David Ornstein,
New York Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Amid the positives, what scares you the most right now about the industry?—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
-
That distinction, between desensitization and normalization, is crucial to how Goldhaber and Mazzei approach scares in the digital age.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The jolts are muted, the setpieces are drab, and the gore is all too literally kept under wraps.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Then, as the pandemic waned, in 2023 and early ’24, came two jolts to the system – federal pandemic-era assistance ended, pulling food and food-related funding away from charities, and the number of people seeking food continued to grow.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Sunday was another game-long display of why Wembanyama horrifies opponents from either side of the ball.—
James Jackson,
New York Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The second thing that strikes me more and actually amazes me is the fact that this is a story, a trope, that is repeated in most of the presentation of Agnes Pockels.—
Mariel Carr,
Scientific American,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Eva’s romance with her husband, Franklin Plaskett, delights and amazes her.—
Adelle Waldman,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The piercing sunlight frightens her.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Like the 1987 Kurt Vonnegut novel from which the restaurant took its name, Bluebeard encourages guests to drop their guard, surround themselves with other people and try something that frightens them a little.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shocks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shocks. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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