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
Meanwhile, Tolle shook off his short last outing and did his part to keep the Orioles off the board.
—
Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 4 June 2026
That famous summer, at the fireworks in Versailles, every streaking green flame shook a sheet of light across the crowd sitting on blankets on the lawns.
—Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
Hertl skated around the back of the net, passed to Sissons, shook a check from Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, took a return pass from Sissons, skated to the slot, and beat goalie Frederik Andersen with a high, blocker-side wrist shot.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
The deaths of both Versace and Diana—both who, it could be argued, died because of their celebrity—shook Carolyn.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 3 June 2026
Peruvians will head to the polls on June 7, 2026, to choose their next president after years of political instability that shook confidence in the country’s democratic institutions.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 June 2026
The most prominent leader of the Black freedom movement that shook the nation to its roots in the two decades after World War II evoked the Bill of Rights, too.
—Michael Kazin, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026
Trump administration immigration raids also shook the city.
—Michael R. Blood, Fortune, 2 June 2026
Alongside the intense audition and training camp process, the installment also explored deeper storylines, including the fight for higher pay, one veteran's alopecia journey and a rule-breaking incident that shook the team.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 4 June 2026
That famous summer, at the fireworks in Versailles, every streaking green flame shook a sheet of light across the crowd sitting on blankets on the lawns.
—Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
Hertl skated around the back of the net, passed to Sissons, shook a check from Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, took a return pass from Sissons, skated to the slot, and beat goalie Frederik Andersen with a high, blocker-side wrist shot.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
The deaths of both Versace and Diana—both who, it could be argued, died because of their celebrity—shook Carolyn.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 3 June 2026
Peruvians will head to the polls on June 7, 2026, to choose their next president after years of political instability that shook confidence in the country’s democratic institutions.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 June 2026
The most prominent leader of the Black freedom movement that shook the nation to its roots in the two decades after World War II evoked the Bill of Rights, too.
—Michael Kazin, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026
Trump administration immigration raids also shook the city.
—Michael R. Blood, Fortune, 2 June 2026
Alongside the intense audition and training camp process, the installment also explored deeper storylines, including the fight for higher pay, one veteran's alopecia journey and a rule-breaking incident that shook the team.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shook
Verb
-
In the summer of 2020, former Morgan Stanley trader Adam Crawley was wandering through Indonesia, Thailand and Australia, perfecting his qigong with a man called Master YanG, when a cold message on LinkedIn jerked him back to reality.—
Phoebe Liu,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
John jerked Maggie back by the elbow and stopped her from stepping into the street.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
As the family entered the intersection, Erickson drove by them and avoided a collision.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
With roughly 55% of the vote counted by early Wednesday, Gallagher avoided a runoff and secured the seat in the heavily Republican 1st Congressional District, according to the Associated Press.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
The way the stadium shuddered with noise.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The aesthetic has seemingly evaded the controversy that’s erupted from Levinson’s eight-episode parable, which officially finished on Sunday.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
1 June 2026
-
Poor Pollination Your peach tree might be perfectly pruned and evaded a late freeze, but none of that matters if its blossoms aren’t properly pollinated.—
Rachel Silva,
Martha Stewart,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
Within minutes, revellers were gasping for breath; their nostrils quivered, their lips turned blue.—
Taran Dugal,
New Yorker,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Despite surrendering a line-drive single to Geraldo Perdomo, Ohtani escaped unscathed thanks to the inning-ending double play.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
One of the students escaped and was in custody.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
THe morning after Louisiana’s House primaries were scheduled to take place, worshippers at Mount Zion First Baptist Church in Baton Rouge were on their feet, swaying to the gospel music that vibrated through the wooden pews.—
Yvonne Wingett Sanchez,
The Atlantic,
31 May 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Shook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shook. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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