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
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Recent Examples of shock
Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2025
To the shock of America’s allies, Mr. Vance traveled to the Munich Security Conference two weeks ago and said nothing about assuring that any armistice or cease-fire would come with security guarantees for Ukraine, or about Russia paying any price for its invasion.
—David E. Sanger, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2025
Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
Flashback: When the current ownership group took over in 2019, staffers were shocked by the lack of team infrastructure.
—Andrew King, Axios, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shock
Noun
Zero Day ended with a shock when Robert De Niro‘s politician did the right thing.
—Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2025
To the shock of America’s allies, Mr. Vance traveled to the Munich Security Conference two weeks ago and said nothing about assuring that any armistice or cease-fire would come with security guarantees for Ukraine, or about Russia paying any price for its invasion.
—David E. Sanger, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
The development shocked the Twins, with some officials believing that their ownership situation might be resolved by Opening Day.
—Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
Flashback: When the current ownership group took over in 2019, staffers were shocked by the lack of team infrastructure.
—Andrew King, Axios, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shock
Noun
-
This is significant because globular clusters are associated with other powerful events associated with older stars, including the collisions and mergers of two neutron stars or a white dwarf collapsing under its own gravity.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Instead, the audience was plunged into an all-consuming experience, a visceral collision of past, present, and future.—
Jeetendr Sehdev,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Confidential and Memento, Pearce is, to the astonishment of many, celebrating his very first Oscar nomination this year, with his terrifying supporting turn in The Brutalist.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
19 Feb. 2025
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In her episode, Roan recreates the cover of her 2023 album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, all while going long about her influences and her astonishment at her meteoric rise to stardom.—
James Factora,
Them,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Again, no one should be surprised by Wednesday’s announcement.—
Bill McKibben,
The New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2025
-
The announcement did not surprise the market given Trump had previously alluded to the move, during discussion of his upcoming 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium, Piotr Ortonowski, head of copper market analysis at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, told CNBC.—
Jenni Reid,
CNBC,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
In 2023, a bear barged into a bakery in Avon, scared employees and helped itself to 60 cupcakes before ambling away.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
1 Mar. 2025
-
Wise infuses a nurturing maturity and vulnerability in Nicole that scares Roger, and challenges him to confront his unhealthy relationship habits and general indecisiveness.—
Morgan A. Grain,
Essence,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The financial outlook from nation’s largest retailer, which has thrived amid stubborn inflation, delivered a jolt across the retail sector.—
Anne D’Innocenzio,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2025
-
The violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja, whose performances can send jolts through even the most well-trod pieces, has a far more active career in Europe than in America.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Several years ago, many of us shared amazement when the State’s current owners, Red and Linda McMonagle, reopened the movie house after an extensive remodeling.—
Doug Hanneman,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2025
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Out of these mixings will come magnificent horrors and amazements.—
Hillary Kelly,
The Atlantic,
3 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Dismay or appall you, sure, but never surprise you.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Dec. 2024
-
That kind of appalls me to think that people need not expect that of themselves.—
David Marchese Photograph by Mamadi Doumbouya,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2024
Verb
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What amazed me was that Zeah was already on home detention for a rack of serious criminal charges.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Feb. 2025
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The Chiefs didn’t amaze us on an every-game basis, not really, anyway.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
14 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to shock
Cite this Entry
“Shock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shock. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
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