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
The losses shook investors’ confidence in Milei’s ability to see through his economic reforms.
—
Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
The unit shook off the penalties and miscues to contain a talented Oklahoma defensive line.
—Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Resident Armando Vierra, an Army veteran, said the explosion woke him up and shook his house, nearly five miles from the plant.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 11 Oct. 2025
Jun Saavedra, a disaster-mitigation officer in Davao Oriental, recounted seeing powerlines sway violently as the ground shook, leading to a power outage.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
In June 2024, Hostin debuted a new hairstyle that shook the table.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025
Some in Lobelville, more than 20 minutes away, said their homes shook from the blast.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
Wearing a yellow fringed dress, Jauregui spun and shook her hips alongside a safety vest-wearing Armstrong, ending the performance by quick-stepping over to the cocktail table, where her bandmates and Bankhead were smiling and clapping in celebration.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 1 Oct. 2025
Perez shook off a slow start to produce a standout year.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
The unit shook off the penalties and miscues to contain a talented Oklahoma defensive line.
—Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Resident Armando Vierra, an Army veteran, said the explosion woke him up and shook his house, nearly five miles from the plant.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 11 Oct. 2025
Jun Saavedra, a disaster-mitigation officer in Davao Oriental, recounted seeing powerlines sway violently as the ground shook, leading to a power outage.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
In June 2024, Hostin debuted a new hairstyle that shook the table.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025
Some in Lobelville, more than 20 minutes away, said their homes shook from the blast.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
Wearing a yellow fringed dress, Jauregui spun and shook her hips alongside a safety vest-wearing Armstrong, ending the performance by quick-stepping over to the cocktail table, where her bandmates and Bankhead were smiling and clapping in celebration.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 1 Oct. 2025
Perez shook off a slow start to produce a standout year.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shook
Verb
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Travis jerked open the door and slid on his butt down a wing that was on fire.—
Gillian Telling,
PEOPLE,
20 Sep. 2025
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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
Verb
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With Tennessee Governor Bill Lee backing the deployment—and faith leaders emphasizing dialogue, restraint, and local input—the city has so far avoided the violent clashes that marked other National Guard operations.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Aspirin should be avoided in children and teens due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome, a rare but serious condition linked to viral infections.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Earth shuddered with yet another wave of extinctions in this initial chill.—
Peter Brannen,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
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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
Verb
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American businesses would pay 22% of the costs, foreign exporters would absorb 18% and 5% would be evaded, according to the Goldman Sachs analysis.—
Elizabeth Schulze,
ABC News,
14 Oct. 2025
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The issue here, contrary to the Administration’s framing, is not that these individuals had previously evaded accountability for allegedly criminal activity.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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One of the most compelling takeaways from the Nuggets’ preseason was David Adelman’s willingness to get weird — a quality that escaped them by the end of Michael Malone’s tenure.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
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After calling 911, police said the woman escaped and started screaming, which is when the officer found her.—
Daniella Segura,
Sacbee.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shook. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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