shake 1 of 2

verb

ˈshāk How to pronounce shake (audio)
Definition of shakenext
1
as in to shudder
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements the bus rattled and shook as it barreled down a rutted road

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to avoid
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery we shook our pursuers by cutting through the abandoned lot

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shake

2 of 2

noun

1
as in minute
a very small space of time I'll be there in two shakes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shivers
shakes plural a sense of panic or extreme nervousness I get the shakes every time I hear her voice

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in quake
a shaking of the earth the shake was a modest 3.1 on the Richter scale

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Ohtani seemed to shake off months of doldrums, hitting a three-run home run in the second inning that put the defending champs up with a big lead. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026 Kyle shared that Kaylub is shaken by the event and doesn't want to speak to the public. — Brie Stimson , Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Noun
Or use milk as a base for your protein shake to improve your shake’s taste and protein content. — Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 2026 This year, the menu will add mango shakes and slushies, made with fruit picked over the summer, as well as guava and hot pepper guava jellies. — Connie Ogle october 1, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake
  1. shudder
  2. avoid
  3. minute
  4. shivers
  5. quake
  6. jerk
  7. evade
  8. heartbeat
Verb
  • Indiana Jones would shudder, but for herpetologist Scott Ballard, a slither doesn't produce a sliver of fear.
    — Noel Brennan, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Conservatives shuddered to think how close the country had come to permanent entangling alliances.
    — Beverly Gage, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of shudder
Verb
  • Recently, A'ja Wilson charged aggressively toward a fan in the stands and avoided a suspension.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The group chose roads that would keep them moving, avoiding excessive stop-start riding at traffic lights and intersections wherever possible.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of avoid
Noun
  • Over the record’s 33 minutes, Holden delivers an outstanding addition to his catalog that’s as absorbing and realist as any rap album this year.
    — Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The nearly six-minute film shows how the team combines precision machining, assembly, and repair to accelerate robot development.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of minute
Noun
  • The idea of seeing a total solar eclipse there sent shivers through me.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The country’s steady release of AI models that are open-source, high-performing, and relatively cheap to build and run has been sending shivers through Silicon Valley and Wall Street.
    — Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of shivers
Noun
  • Residents reported experiencing the quake in a number of cities, such as Murrieta, Winchester, Menifee, San Jacinto and Hemet according to the USGS DYFI report.
    — CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The threat of tsunami has likely largely receded, says USGS seismologist Susan Hough, as the quake occurred on land and happened at a relatively shallow depth.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of quake
Verb
  • During the test, Linton jerked and twitched in what prosecutors described as an attempt to fake a seizure.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Drivers should never swerve or jerk the steering wheel, the state patrol said.
    — Celia Frazier, Denver Post, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of jerk
Verb
  • The new Marvel series will see the hero grapple with his identity and humanity while evading a bounty hunter and reuniting with his son.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Last year, a Houthi missile evaded Israel’s vaunted air defenses and impacted near Ben Gurion airport.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of evade
Noun
  • Focusing on something introspective, such as breath, heartbeat or a growing and shrinking dot, can induce a near-hypnotic state that clears the mind.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Focusing on something introspective, like your breath, your heartbeat or a growing and shrinking dot, can induce an almost hypnotic state that clears the mind.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of heartbeat

Phrases Containing shake

Browse Nearby Words

shakable
shake
shake a leg
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Cite this Entry

“Shake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on shake

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shake

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