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
In his press conference on Monday, Rosenior pointed out that one video of Fernandez appearing to walk past him after being substituted against Manchester United was cut before the player turned around and hugged him and shook his hand.
—
Cerys Jones, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Shortly after the lethal injection got underway, a warden shook Willacy and shouted his name, but there was no response.
—David Fischer, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
Able had been in custody following a shooting spree that left multiple people injured and shook parts of the DeKalb County community.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
The cat lunged, grabbed Bender’s arm, and just as quickly, the hunter shook it off, and the animal bolted.
—Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
An Amish woman and her six children ranging in age from 3 to 11 were killed in a swift-moving house fire after an explosion that shook nearby houses in rural north-central Pennsylvania, authorities said.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
But Colorado shook off the punch.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
Jaylen Brown shook off a slow shooting start to lead all scorers with 26 points on 11-of-21 shooting.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
The pair shook hands and shared some laughs with those waiting in line to see them.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
Cerys Jones, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Shortly after the lethal injection got underway, a warden shook Willacy and shouted his name, but there was no response.
—David Fischer, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
Able had been in custody following a shooting spree that left multiple people injured and shook parts of the DeKalb County community.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
The cat lunged, grabbed Bender’s arm, and just as quickly, the hunter shook it off, and the animal bolted.
—Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
An Amish woman and her six children ranging in age from 3 to 11 were killed in a swift-moving house fire after an explosion that shook nearby houses in rural north-central Pennsylvania, authorities said.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
But Colorado shook off the punch.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
Jaylen Brown shook off a slow shooting start to lead all scorers with 26 points on 11-of-21 shooting.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
The pair shook hands and shared some laughs with those waiting in line to see them.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 14 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
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In Minneapolis, 66% of those needing urgent care avoided going to the hospital, the study found.—
Ubah Ali,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
But that confusion can be avoided.—
Bruce Staley,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Apr. 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
-
The helicopters successfully evaded Pakistan's layered air defenses, there was a crash immediately at UBL's compound, guys were scrambling to get inside, Khalid bin Laden got melted in the stairwell and then the SEALs got bin Laden on the third deck.—
David Hookstead OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Redick said watching McIlroy this time around, compared to his first Masters victory last year after the championship had evaded him time and again, was a different experience.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For a moment, the plane quivered around them like a greyhound straining on a leash.—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The 28-year-old driver initially escaped but was later located by military police on the base and taken into custody.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore The Indonesian archipelago straddles many of the waterways governing access between the Indian Ocean and the rest of East Asia, which hasn’t escaped the notice of Indonesian officials.—
Angelica Ang,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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 26 Apr. 2026.
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