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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shook
After a while, the lady shook her head.
—
Bryan Washington, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2025
The earthquake shook at a depth of just 4 miles, with its epicenter about 6 miles south-southeast of Pinnacles.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Quarterback Beckham Sharp shook off a 10-yard sack, finding Julias Garcia for 37 yards and Jason Guzman for 18 yards on consecutive plays for first-and-goal at the 6.
—Steve Dulas, Oc Register, 6 Sep. 2025
Sabalenka shook her head and slammed her arms by her side.
—Howard Fendrich, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
In March, a massive, violent earthquake shook Myanmar.
—Lauren Liebhaber
september 5, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
But on a purely cinematic level, this was also the only film at this year’s festival that shook me to my core.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2025
Kaye and Deluca’s killings shook the Encino neighborhood located in Los Angeles’s San Fernando Valley.
—Sean Mandell, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Deena Campbell, Beauty Expert and Journalist Sharon Chuter shook the table and made the entire industry listen.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 26 Aug. 2025
Bryan Washington, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2025
The earthquake shook at a depth of just 4 miles, with its epicenter about 6 miles south-southeast of Pinnacles.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Quarterback Beckham Sharp shook off a 10-yard sack, finding Julias Garcia for 37 yards and Jason Guzman for 18 yards on consecutive plays for first-and-goal at the 6.
—Steve Dulas, Oc Register, 6 Sep. 2025
Sabalenka shook her head and slammed her arms by her side.
—Howard Fendrich, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
In March, a massive, violent earthquake shook Myanmar.
—Lauren Liebhaber
september 5, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
But on a purely cinematic level, this was also the only film at this year’s festival that shook me to my core.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2025
Kaye and Deluca’s killings shook the Encino neighborhood located in Los Angeles’s San Fernando Valley.
—Sean Mandell, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Deena Campbell, Beauty Expert and Journalist Sharon Chuter shook the table and made the entire industry listen.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shook
Verb
-
The president starts out by making a visit to Liberty Arena to play basketball with some school children, then gets jerked away when the crisis happens.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
2 Sep. 2025
-
If Hall jerked too violently, let alone tried to run, the wire would pull the trigger, firing the shotgun Kiritsis had pointed at the back of Hall’s head.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Notably, Miami midfielder Sergio Busquets avoided punishment after appearing to strike Vargas on the chin during the post-match melee.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
-
During his March 2023 visit to Mariupol, Putin had avoided the theater.—
Yegor Mostovshikov,
The Dial,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
For much of last season, Atletico appeared set to seriously compete on all fronts, but their season shuddered to a stop in March with a series of disappointing defeats by Barcelona and Madrid across La Liga, Copa del Rey and the Champions League.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
-
The van shuddered, shifted gear.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Large swaths of eastern Colorado have evaded the drought plaguing most of the state west of 25.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Weaponized stubbornness Scoring is a straightforward concept, but success in this realm evaded Florida Saturday night.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Two 12-year-old girls escaped the fire.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Families escaped to calm waters for canoeing, hiking, and long afternoons spent idling on the shore.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shook. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share