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
This should have people across the country absolutely shook.
—
David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 30 Jan. 2026
The birth of Endeavor startled Hollywood, but Endeavor’s subsequent takeover of powerhouse William Morris shook the town to its core.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026
The goal was to be standing there, chest out, ready to pounce when the next generational superstar finally shook loose from a small market.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026
Despite that, Concepcion always embraced his time in media scrums, shook everyone's hand before and after and showed confidence while doing so.
—Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
The earthquake shook at a depth of just 2 miles, with its epicenter roughly 4 miles south-southwest of Encino.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The disaster shook public confidence, led to speed reductions and temporarily paused construction on new lines, but no major incidents have been reported in the 15 years since, even as the network has continued to expand.
—Ben Jones, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
The mood in the crowd was widespread anger and sadness — recalling the same outpouring of wrath and grief that shook the city after the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police in 2020, although without the widespread violent protests then.
—Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Morris shook Crockett’s hand before turning back down the sidewalk.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 30 Jan. 2026
The birth of Endeavor startled Hollywood, but Endeavor’s subsequent takeover of powerhouse William Morris shook the town to its core.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026
The goal was to be standing there, chest out, ready to pounce when the next generational superstar finally shook loose from a small market.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026
Despite that, Concepcion always embraced his time in media scrums, shook everyone's hand before and after and showed confidence while doing so.
—Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
The earthquake shook at a depth of just 2 miles, with its epicenter roughly 4 miles south-southwest of Encino.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The disaster shook public confidence, led to speed reductions and temporarily paused construction on new lines, but no major incidents have been reported in the 15 years since, even as the network has continued to expand.
—Ben Jones, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
The mood in the crowd was widespread anger and sadness — recalling the same outpouring of wrath and grief that shook the city after the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police in 2020, although without the widespread violent protests then.
—Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Morris shook Crockett’s hand before turning back down the sidewalk.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shook
Verb
-
Aisha jerked and opened her eyes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The two stood nose-to-nose on the field when the Steelers player grabbed onto Chase’s facemask, jerked his head and appeared to punch him.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
16 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
That last-minute development is reviving debate about the extent of state support for Vanke, one of the last major developers to have avoided an outright default after a broader property market slump sparked record debt failures in recent years.—
Bloomberg News,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Porter and Swalwell joined majorities of Democratic House members to support various spending packages in Congress, which included billions for a border wall and in at least one case, avoided a government shutdown.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
No one spoke until Chuky shuddered his head and this time without laughing said, Shit, that’s crazy.—
Jonathan Miles,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
East Denver sushi fans shuddered in late December when Okinawa Japanese Cuisine, a mainstay on Colfax Avenue since 2010, closed and boarded up its doors with brown paper.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Deputies located and attempted to stop the vehicle a short time later, but the driver did not yield and recklessly evaded, and the pursuit was ultimately terminated in the interest of public safety.—
Anne Gelhaus,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The men, who knew each other from prison, evaded law enforcement for roughly 36 hours, driving north and then heading back down south through Montana before they were arrested in Twin Falls.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
One friend of mine, a former student, has escaped with her husband and baby to a remote island in northern Wisconsin.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Shortly after being resentenced, Thompson escaped from the Harris County jail in Houston by walking out the front door virtually unchallenged by deputies.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The same thing can be said about the narrowcast programming on public-access television, which, at its best, vibrated with sui generis excitement that predated and forecasted the early uncharted territory of the internet.—
Vikram Murthi,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2026
-
As the meeting was ending, Vande Kolk’s cellphone vibrated.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shook. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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