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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

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
Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić shaking hands after signing bilateral documents during a meeting in Belgrade, Serbia, on May 8, 2024. Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025 Nikki Bella and Lola Vice were shaking their hips in the middle of the ring, and Wade Barrett encouraged Michael Cole to show them what he’s got. Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Noun
According to users' feedback, 85% of people who received an alert felt shaking, and as many as 36% of survey respondents reported receiving an alert before a shake. Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 18 July 2025 Each of the 75 winners will get 12 months of deals including free meals, breakfast items and shakes – about $480 worth of deals. Mike Snider, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for shake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake
Verb
  • All those sharp tool and drills are enough to make anyone shudder.
    Marilyn La Jeunesse, Parents, 9 July 2025
  • When only two vehicles remain on the far edge of the lot, the woman twists the key in the ignition and the idling car shudders still.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Close the blinds and curtains on sun-facing windows to block the sun's rays and avoid unwanted heat.
    Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
  • After all, avoiding some topics or questions altogether could be perceived as a political response, said Mark Riedl, a professor of computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
    Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 24 July 2025
Noun
  • Grill chicken over medium, turning once, until done (165°F), 8 to 10 minutes.
    Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 July 2025
  • About 30 minutes east of Sagres, travelers can find even more peace and solitude in the quiet coastal village of Burgau.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 29 July 2025
Noun
  • The first, a 3.0-magnitude quake, shook slightly after 11:28 a.m., and the second, a 3.1-magnitude quake, followed 34 seconds later, the agency reported.
    Daniella Segura, Sacbee.com, 28 July 2025
  • Now, a new analysis shows that the system recorded 11,000 quakes about as well as standard seismometers.
    Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 20 July 2025
Verb
  • Having already had to navigate a 180-degree turn around a roundabout at 80km per hour, the road jerked to the left with around 1.6km remaining and, with some riders forced wide, the group was split.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 12 July 2025
  • The passenger jerked forward and their belongings were thrown to the floor.
    Abhirup Roy, USA Today, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Cromartie also took a plea deal for charges including strangulation, third degree assault of a police officer, first degree wanton endangerment, disarming a peace officer, fleeing or evading police, resisting arrest and violation of a foreign protective order, according to court records.
    Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 18 July 2025
  • Of late, Netanyahu has attempted to fudge the issue by pushing through legislation that would create a technical process for drafting the ultra-Orthodox but in practice make the new requirements easy to evade.
    Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 17 July 2025
Noun
  • According to medical records obtained by EW on Thursday, the former pro wrestler had a history of leukemia and atrial fibrillation, a common disorder that causes irregular heartbeats.
    Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 31 July 2025
  • Some of Widmer's supporters believe Sarah might have had a genetic disorder, such as Long QT Syndrome type 7, a condition that can cause irregular heartbeats.
    Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 31 July 2025
Noun
  • On Alaska's Kenai Peninsula, a flurry of small earthquakes shook the Iliamna volcano on June 15.
    Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 14 July 2025
  • While much of America has moved past COVID-19, the pandemic that hit the industry like an earthquake continues to experience aftershocks.
    Alexander Coolidge, The Enquirer, 13 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Shake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.

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