Synonyms of shocks

shocks 1 of 2

noun

plural of shock

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

• collisions
• jolts
• impacts
• crashes
• thumps
• bumps
• blows
• slams
• encounters
• slaps
• contacts
• kicks
• concussions
• punches
• knocks
• impingements
• strikes
• jars
• jounces
• hits
• wallops
• buffets
• smashes
• raps
• touches
• thrashings
• batterings
• bashings
• meetings
• lickings

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

• astonishments
• amazements
• surprises
• dismays
• awes
• wonderments
• wonders
• confusions
• stupefactions
• startlements
• startles
• bewilderments
• consternations
• discomfitures

shocks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of shock

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

• appalls
• horrifies
• scares
• stuns
• jolts
• frightens
• startles
• shakes
• outrages
• astonishes
• terrifies
• shakes up
• disgusts
• alarms
• amazes
• floors
• overwhelms
• panics
• flabbergasts
• stupefies
• dismays
• frights
• dumbfounds
• upsets
• spooks
• freaks (out)
• revolts
• terrorizes
• awes
• sickens
• scandalizes
• displeases
• disturbs
• nauseates
• affrights
• offends
• unsettles
• distresses
• scarifies
• knocks for a loop
• bowls over
• astounds
• repels
• disquiets
• disconcerts
• unnerves
• discomforts
• daunts
• perturbs
• dispirits
• undoes
• emasculates
• unstrings
• chills
• turns off
• demoralizes
• unmans
• discomposes
• overpowers
• weirds out
• crushes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• delights
• pleases
• buffers
• cushions
• rejoices
• tickles
• gratifies
• assures
• cheers
• tempts
• charms
• entices
• comforts
• soothes
• consoles
• reassures
• solaces

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

• surprises
• amazes
• stuns
• startles
• astonishes
• rocks
• flabbergasts
• stupefies
• dumbfounds
• astounds
• bewilders
• takes by surprise
• bowls over
• perplexes
• confuses
• takes aback
• thunderstrikes
• disconcerts
• dismays
• floors
• dazes
• befuddles
• blindsides
• discomfits
• nonpluses
• blows away
• shakes up
• muddles
• confounds
• jars
• knocks for a loop

3

as in scares

to strike with fear

the sudden appearance of the ghost shocked us to the core

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scares
• frightens
• terrifies
• startles
• spooks
• horrifies
• shakes
• panics
• frights
• alarms
• terrorizes
• affrights
• scarifies
• jolts
• appalls
• amazes
• worries
• gives one the creeps
• dismays
• awes
• makes one's flesh creep
• distracts
• shakes up
• astounds
• unsettles
• upsets
• distresses
• disturbs
• bowls over
• disquiets
• daunts
• unnerves
• disconcerts
• discomforts
• dispirits
• floors
• perturbs
• emasculates
• unstrings
• chills
• undoes
• unmans
• demoralizes
• discomposes
• psychs (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reassures
• assures
• cheers
• comforts
• soothes
• consoles
• encourages
• inspires
• steels
• solaces
• emboldens
• heartens

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of shocks

Noun

European economies took the dual shocks much harder than the United States, which was insulated by a more diversified economy and a recent world-leading AI buildout. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 8 July 2026

In certain essential service industries (such as commercial cleaning, waste management and repair services), margins are highly predictable, and recurring revenue models allow companies to avoid macroeconomic shocks. — Justin Donald, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

The Monster Jam Mega Grave Digger All-Terrain Remote Control Monster Truck features custom rubber treads, mega-sized shocks and suspension. — Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026

Geopolitical shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic or overseas wars can choke supply chains, create more demand for the limited supply and cause prices to spike, said UC Davis agricultural economist Dan Sumner. — Chase Hunter, Boston Herald, 6 July 2026

Lionel Messi and Argentina avoided one of the biggest ever World Cup knockout shocks by overcoming Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time of a jaw-dropping game. — James Horncastle, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Asian stocks still have room to run even after a blistering first-half rally, while investors should continue diversifying into commodities as geopolitical shocks reinforce long-term demand for metals and energy infrastructure, Goldman Sachs said. — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 29 June 2026

Suspension comes from telescopic forks and rear pendulum shocks that ought to offer long travel. — Utkarsh Sood june 28, New Atlas, 28 June 2026

Geopolitical shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic or overseas wars can choke supply chains, create more demand for the limited supply and cause prices to spike, said UC Davis agricultural economist Dan Sumner. — Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 28 June 2026

Verb

Jean-Marie Le Pen shocks France by reaching the presidential runoff, losing to Jacques Chirac in a landslide. — ABC News, 6 July 2026

What shocks her even more is that Laura Kim, a classmate at Columbia, got in. — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 30 June 2026

Dislocation from tariffs, onshoring, war, oil, and supply shocks present opportunities for dissident shareholders to show laggards the way. — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 25 June 2026

So during her speech, Beulah shocks everyone by saying the ranch will go to Rob-Will. — Noel Murray, Vulture, 19 June 2026

The revelation shocks both Rachel and David into action. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 18 June 2026

Bubbles Didn’t Enter The Picture That Early In one of the moist unintentionally hilarious moments in the movie, Michael shocks his family by adopting a CGI baby chimpanzee named Bubbles sometime around 1979. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2026

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