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shake

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word shake different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of shake are agitate, convulse, and rock. While all these words mean "to move up and down or to and fro with some violence," shake often carries a further implication of a particular purpose.

shake well before using

When could agitate be used to replace shake?

The words agitate and shake can be used in similar contexts, but agitate suggests a violent and prolonged tossing or stirring.

an ocean agitated by storms

When can convulse be used instead of shake?

The words convulse and shake are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, convulse suggests a violent pulling or wrenching as of a body in a paroxysm.

spectators were convulsed with laughter

When might rock be a better fit than shake?

In some situations, the words rock and shake are roughly equivalent. However, rock suggests a swinging or swaying motion resulting from violent impact or upheaval.

the whole city was rocked by the explosion

Examples 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 shake
Verb
Willis was seen in a rare black-and-white video and photo posted to his wife Emma Heming’s Instagram page on Thursday, shaking the hand of two LAPD officers. Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 16 Jan. 2025 President Donald Trump and Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shake hands during a meeting ahead of the NATO summit in Watford, in London, Britain, December 3, 2019. Seema Mody,ece Yildirim, CNBC, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
Breaking free from the career conveyor belt brings confused looks and head shakes. Jodie Cook, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024 The home’s exterior showcases roofing materials crafted from wood shake roofing / shingles. Bay Area Home Report, The Mercury News, 7 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for shake 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake
Verb
  • Until some team wins 500 games in a row and forces the league to shudder for lack of competitive interest or something like that, this will continue to be the case.
    Nick Suss, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
  • With all the progress in computing, the old dream of achieving optimal morality shuddered awake.
    Sigal Samuel, Vox, 3 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Remember to keep a thorough record of your communication in writing to avoid any misunderstandings.
    Christopher Elliott The Travel Troubleshooter, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2025
  • President-elect Trump wants congressional Republicans to figure out a way to avoid a default on the national debt after venting his frustration with the Senate GOP over their failure to raise the debt limit as part of a government-funding package last month.
    Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Dorian Finney-Smith, playing in just his fourth game with his new team, scored in double figures for the first time as a Laker, finishing with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting in 26 minutes off the bench.
    Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 6 Jan. 2025
  • Indianapolis marched the length of the field, draining clock and threatening to take the lead with less than a minute left.
    Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The quake epicenter was 2 miles north-northwest of Cobb, a small community in the hills south of Clear Lake.
    Daniel Hunt, Sacramento Bee, 2 Jan. 2025
  • The last one in Hamilton County was in 1986 when a 2.0-magnitude quake tremored Colerain Township.
    Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 29 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Previously the two were able to disable brakes, honk the horn, jerk the seat belt, and control the steering wheel using a laptop in the back of both a Toyota Prius and Ford Escape.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 28 Dec. 2024
  • Dad nodded his approval again and the kid did as instructed, reflexively jerking his hand away as the starter began to churn the 117-cubic inch motor.
    William Roberson, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • More than 180 oil-carrying vessels that are suspected to be part of a shadow fleet utilized by the Kremlin to evade oil sanctions as well as traders, oil field service firms and Russian energy officials are also targeted by the new sanctions.
    AAMER MADHANI THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, arkansasonline.com, 11 Jan. 2025
  • Some, their principles unbreakable, have to live their philosophy, not just to get to the core of it but to evade the accusation of hypocrisy.
    Emily Zarevich, JSTOR Daily, 11 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Demand Generation Manager Creating demand is the heartbeat of modern marketing.
    Sho Dewan, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Abuse can lead to irregular heartbeat, ischemic heart conditions, sudden cardiac arrest, convulsions, strokes and death.
    Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 25 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Although Onagawa was closer to the earthquake’s epicenter and faced an even more powerful tsunami, the reactors there – which were identical in type and age to Fukushima’s and subject to the same regulations – emerged almost unscathed.
    Najmedin Meshkati, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2025
  • As Stephen Nesbitt wrote in a beautiful feature yesterday, Sasaki’s hometown was largely wiped away by the infamous Tohoku earthquake.
    Chris Branch, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near shake

Cite this Entry

“Shake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on shake

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