1
as in jerked
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements
the bus rattled and shook as it barreled down a rutted road
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in avoided
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery
we shook our pursuers by cutting through the abandoned lot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shook
Their struggles are why Buster Posey shook things up by calling up Bryce Eldridge and Jesus Rodriguez.
—
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 7 May 2026
Eventually, the Thunder shook off the rust from an eight-day break and went up 31-26 at the end of the first quarter, despite 12 points from James.
—CBS News, 5 May 2026
Some tried to help the former NBA star up to his feet while the video shook in the chaos, and several people could be heard shouting for help.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 5 May 2026
The man shook a rusted old pan filled with black sand, and a string of yellowish pebbles appeared.
—Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
The violence shook a ceasefire that has largely held since going into effect on April 8.
—Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 4 May 2026
But some Republicans shook their heads in disagreement.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 4 May 2026
Minutes into the execution, the team warden briefly flicked Hitchcock‘s face and yelled his name twice and shook his shoulders.
—Jeffrey Collins, Sun Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
Bukele shook off his delusions of being the emperor of social media and abandoned his bullying tactics in the face of the biggest bully.
—Óscar Martínez, The Dial, 30 Apr. 2026
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 7 May 2026
Eventually, the Thunder shook off the rust from an eight-day break and went up 31-26 at the end of the first quarter, despite 12 points from James.
—CBS News, 5 May 2026
Some tried to help the former NBA star up to his feet while the video shook in the chaos, and several people could be heard shouting for help.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 5 May 2026
The man shook a rusted old pan filled with black sand, and a string of yellowish pebbles appeared.
—Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
The violence shook a ceasefire that has largely held since going into effect on April 8.
—Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 4 May 2026
But some Republicans shook their heads in disagreement.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 4 May 2026
Minutes into the execution, the team warden briefly flicked Hitchcock‘s face and yelled his name twice and shook his shoulders.
—Jeffrey Collins, Sun Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
Bukele shook off his delusions of being the emperor of social media and abandoned his bullying tactics in the face of the biggest bully.
—Óscar Martínez, The Dial, 30 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shook
Verb
-
The plane jerked to a stop as two trucks passed just feet in front of its nose.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
16 Apr. 2026
-
We are jerked between past and present as his backstory gets filled in, one jogged memory at a time.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Catalan-Torreblanca had previously avoided the database because his only prior criminal history was a misdemeanor DUI arrest, which does not require a DNA swab, according to authorities.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
-
The Supreme Court announcing the VRA decision closer to the end of its term next month could have avoided this 11th-hour frenzy.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
At least the elevator still creaked and shuddered, as in the old days, finally trembling open on the eighth floor.—
Rick Bragg,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Later, when Tristan gently put his hand on Marke’s shoulder, the king shuddered.—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
While testing the model, Anthropic discovered decades-old software flaws and bugs that had evaded millions of previous attempts.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
-
After Noah Cates won the faceoff back to Cam York, York moved the puck to Michkov, who evaded Penguins center Ben Kindel and sent the puck back to York for the series-winner.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
For a moment, the plane quivered around them like a greyhound straining on a leash.—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Last night, the Knicks barely escaped over the 76ers, and the Spurs blew out the Timberwolves.—
David Troy,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
-
In another case, a female monkey escaped her cage due to a welding failure, according to the inspection report.—
Corey Schmidt,
Sacbee.com,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
The pilot of a helicopter that crashed on a sightseeing flight off the Hawaiian island of Kauai last month, killing three passengers, told investigators that the aircraft vibrated and spun before plunging into the water, according to report released Friday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The envelope all but vibrated in her hands.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shook. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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