shake 1 of 2

Definition of shakenext

shake

2 of 2

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

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

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 shake
Verb
Lee screamed, running toward Knueppel and shaking a bottle of water over his head. Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 3 Apr. 2026 The roughly 600-resident island community is shaken. Francie Ebert, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
Give it a quick shake, then either soak a cotton pad or pour a little into your palms and press it gently into your skin. Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 26 Mar. 2026 For their version, TWS added an endearing shoulder shake to the choreography that enticed a slew of A-list Korean celebrities to imitate them. Jae-Ha Kim, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake
Verb
  • And while many shudder at the idea of an AI job apocalypse, others are leveraging the technology to answer complex questions.
    Jake Angelo, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026
  • The effort paid off almost immediately, said Jonas Preine, a volcanologist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; by chance, at the end of January 2025, the region began to shudder.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Takaoka played a long arcing ball-ahead to Ocampo, who avoided goalkeeper James Pantemis — who had charged off his line — and rolled a shot from the edge of the penalty area inside the back post and into a wide-open net.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Refrain from entering water that might carry an electric current and avoid walking through floodwaters.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Seven stacks of tiny paper cups were arranged to the left, next to packets of Nescafé, pouches of two-minute noodles, and a double gas burner connected to the cylinder—the main tool of his trade.
    Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
  • The dinky port town of Antiparos, with a strip of cute shops, cafes, and unpretentious restaurants, is a ten-minute drive.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • And some shivers, because that title isn’t a misdirect.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Loznitsa’s methods are grim and exacting, but the effect is never monotonous; there are shivers of Hitchcockian suspense, plus a whispery cackle of satire that veers toward the Kafkaesque.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Those who noticed the quake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2026
  • People outside might also feel a quake of this magnitude.
    Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • In a viral video of the aftermath, the robot jerks back and forth to shake the glass off, showering yet more dangerous shards onto the sidewalk.
    Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Tony Fauci was not just jerking the country around.
    David Blumenthal, Fortune, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • In the 72nd minute, Dudinha, who finished with two assists, stole the ball from Chicago and passed it to Barcenas, who, while moving to her left, delivered a brilliant backheel to her right to evade two defenders.
    Fernando Ramirez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
  • To evade interference from electronic jammers, both militaries launch drones attached to miles-long spools of fiber-optic wire - leaving behind a digital spider's web.
    Holly Williams, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • But Herndon knew his heartbeat — his love of family, faith and Kansas City.
    Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Zack James’ shifty drumming hammers out a drum ’n’ bass redux like a panicked heartbeat while Carney Hemler’s bass lurches in slow motion, replicating the gut drop of a horrible realization.
    Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 3 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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