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

Ryosuke Inoue, Visiting Fellow at CSIS Climate change means the shocks testing that system aren’t going away. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026

One thing that won’t change though is a world investors expect to be hit by recurring supply shocks and persistent inflation. — Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026

Southeast Asian countries are continuing a $160 billion gas buildout, even as the Middle East conflict exposed the import-dependent region’s vulnerability to supply shocks and high prices. — Chloé Farand, semafor.com, 24 Sep. 2026

While the concept has always had Fox shocks, it was first seen with Maxxis rubber, and subsequently with Schwalbe Tacky Chan downhill tires on DT Swiss wheels last year. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2026

China’s years of stockpiling crude, cutting imports and shifting toward electric vehicles have curbed demand, shielding the world economy from sharper price shocks. — Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026

Even as the actors shouted in counterfeit pain from the next room, the subjects continued to administer increasingly intense shocks they’d been told could lead to unconsciousness or even death. — Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026

Verb

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

One team usually shocks the world with a run to the postseason. — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026

The incident shocks audience members and sends cast and crew into a meltdown. — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026

Vernon said deputies, in accordance with the sheriff’s usage policy, will have to justify additional time the glove shocks the person. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026

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

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