1
as in collision
a forceful coming together of two things
the whole railway platform shook from the shock of the two trains colliding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in astonishment
the state of being strongly impressed by something unexpected or unusual
were in shock after they heard the news of the death of the president
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to appal
to cause an unpleasant surprise for
Mom was shocked by the terrible news that her cousin had died in an accident I was shocked to find out that I was the victim of identity theft
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to surprise
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
were shocked by the way the law against public intoxication was constantly being broken
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to scare
to strike with fear
the sudden appearance of the ghost shocked us to the core
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 shock
Kent Murphy, Denver Post, 25 May 2025
The sporting comparison Hough makes with that 1984-85 Verona season is Leicester City’s shock Premier League title win in 2015-16, a season which has gone down in sporting lore as success against the odds.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 23 May 2025
Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 29 May 2025
These works shocked the public and critics by presenting a radically different vision of modernity.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shock
Noun
The Air Force Academy’s new superintendent, Lt. Gen. Tony D. Bauernfeind, arrived in August of 2024 and immediately embarked on his own personal shock and awe campaign.
—Kent Murphy, Denver Post, 25 May 2025
The sporting comparison Hough makes with that 1984-85 Verona season is Leicester City’s shock Premier League title win in 2015-16, a season which has gone down in sporting lore as success against the odds.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 23 May 2025
Verb
The low-cost and short time of development shocked global markets, sparking concerns that U.S. tech giants were overspending on infrastructure and wiping billions of dollars of value of major U.S. tech stocks like AI stalwart Nvidia.
—Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 29 May 2025
These works shocked the public and critics by presenting a radically different vision of modernity.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shock
Noun
-
The collision of the Cuauhtémoc with the Brooklyn Bridge comes just 16 months after a massive cargo ship plowed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
19 May 2025
-
This replenishment likely comes from collisions between dwarf planets, cometary nuclei, micrometeoroids and other flotsam and jetsam lurking in the dark of the debris disk.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
19 May 2025
Noun
-
Among those who watched in astonishment at the fundraiser were New Hampshire Democratic U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster and California U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
-
To Jin’s astonishment, the sphere darted through the inner courtyard around to the entranceway and then directly out the main gate.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
6 May 2025
Verb
-
While watching car auctions together may surprise some, Kidman previously shared that Urban is a car enthusiast with Marie Claire Australia for the magazine's November 2020 issue.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
23 May 2025
-
After shaking a few hands and taking many a selfies, the pair walked into an awaiting elevator to go surprise more ticket holders.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 May 2025
Verb
-
The employee said to not shoot the bear and advised him to call Public Safety to scare it away, officials said, adding that what likely attracted the bear to the man’s home were food items, including cat food and unclean grills.—
Natalie Demaree,
Miami Herald,
25 May 2025
-
This is the second bill DeSantis has signed in Florida on swatting, or making false police reports to scare victims by sending law enforcement to their home.—
Jenny Goldsberry,
The Washington Examiner,
21 May 2025
Noun
-
The hope is that Mayer can provide a similar jolt with Bregman out, then translate that into a full-time MLB gig.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 May 2025
-
Eliana Krasnow laced a double in the home half of the inning, but Walsh didn’t allow the offensive jolt to mount further.—
Jason Cooke,
Boston Herald,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
As everyone, including Pagán and his teammates, watches the 26-year-old in amazement, the only person who doesn’t seem surprised is Benson himself.—
C. Trent Rosecrans,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
-
While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter for the 2025 Met Gala, the Sinners director and his wife and co-producer on the project discussed their amazement over the box office success of the vampire thriller.—
Sharareh Drury,
People.com,
6 May 2025
Verb
-
Still, there is plenty here that should appall both Democrats and Republicans.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Dismay or appall you, sure, but never surprise you.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
What amazes me is how reading has affected not just me but so many others as well.—
Lynne Agress,
Baltimore Sun,
19 May 2025
-
While the dazzling auroras might’ve amazed our ancestors, the weak magnetic field intensified ultraviolet and cosmic radiation.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shock. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share