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

New Zealand looks to be the best place to hedge impact from severe El Niño shocks to global food supply chains, according to Bank of America. — Justina Lee, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026

For any brand looking to steady its input costs and protect its production lines from geopolitical shocks, the case is straightforward. — Rob Kaplan, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Solar isn’t necessarily immune to geopolitical shocks, though. — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 18 Aug. 2026

Americans are very good at driving dramatic change in response to terrible shocks, such as Pearl Harbor, September 11, or the COVID-19 pandemic. — Doug Beck, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

The new rules also include an update to a mechanism in the program that’s intended to avoid price shocks. — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2026

While a change in leadership at the Fed can trigger some market volatility, Chairman Warsh’s approach of less communication has added to uncertainty about how the central bank will respond to inflation and other economic shocks. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026

Senegal raised fuel prices by 7% in order to contain the cost of subsidies, underscoring Africa’s vulnerability to foreign energy shocks like the one sparked by the Iran war. — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Beyond strengthening supply chain security, this domestic loop insulates manufacturers from international commodity price shocks and significantly cuts the environmental impact of raw material extraction. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Aug. 2026

Verb

Nixon shocks Florida Democrats with primary upset Everything was stacked against the 32-year-old state legislator in a race establishment Democrats had hoped to make somewhat competitive this fall. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026

The crime shocks Miami Machado and Sierra, who had a history of domestic violence, split up shortly before the killings. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2026

All the regulars head inside, but then a loud boom shocks viewers. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 23 July 2026

Finally, a mystical Rabbi arrives and shocks the king and queen by taking off all his clothing, getting under the table and crowing like a rooster. — Josh Penn Soskin, Variety, 16 July 2026

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