SHOCKS Synonyms: 149 Similar and Opposite Words

shocks 1 of 2

noun

plural of shock

as in collisions

a forceful coming together of two things the whole railway platform shook from the shock of the two trains colliding

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as in astonishments

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

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shocks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of shock

as in appalls

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in surprises

to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected were shocked by the way the law against public intoxication was constantly being broken

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as in scares

to strike with fear the sudden appearance of the ghost shocked us to the core

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 shocks

Noun

Following a series of global shocks, the average developing country now spends more than ten percent of its revenue on interest on debt, [nearly double the burden a decade ago], crowding out investment for growth. — Masood Ahmed, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026 But a new generation of refineries has the potential to transform economies, not only protecting countries from future energy shocks but providing the baseload power needed to ramp up manufacturing. — semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026 According to prosecutors, intelligence officers attacked him from behind, causing a serious back injury, and subsequently subjected him to electric shocks. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026 While the artificial intelligence infrastructure investment boom and energy shocks have injected fresh short term uncertainties into the inflation outlook, the broader US economy is not overheating. — CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026 This is because restricting exports would effectively concentrate the rest of the world’s production, making the remaining supply base more fragile and increasing the rest of the world’s exposure to any subsequent output shocks. — Michel Robe, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2026 Yet much of the current inflation comes from supply shocks, such as the Iran war’s disruption to oil and gas supplies, and higher interest rates can’t address those bottlenecks. — Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 The emergency reserve has already fallen to its lowest level since the 1980s following releases intended to cushion oil price shocks from the Iran war and the Russia-Ukraine war. — Erika Angulo, NBC news, 11 Oct. 2026 Triumph says the redesign was to accommodate the twin rear shocks and a new tubular-steel swingarm. — New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2026

Verb

Triple murder shocks Miami Machado and Sierra, who had a history of domestic violence, split up shortly before the killings. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026 One team usually shocks the world with a run to the postseason. — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026 The incident shocks audience members and sends cast and crew into a meltdown. — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026 Vernon said deputies, in accordance with the sheriff’s usage policy, will have to justify additional time the glove shocks the person. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Nixon shocks Florida Democrats with primary upset Everything was stacked against the 32-year-old state legislator in a race establishment Democrats had hoped to make somewhat competitive this fall. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026 All the regulars head inside, but then a loud boom shocks viewers. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 23 July 2026 Jean-Marie Le Pen shocks France by reaching the presidential runoff, losing to Jacques Chirac in a landslide. — ABC News, 6 July 2026 What shocks her even more is that Laura Kim, a classmate at Columbia, got in. — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 30 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shocks

Noun

Also, passenger road vehicles use safety features like steel bumpers and crumple zones to absorb impact forces during collisions.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
Robertson said those concerns include obstruction of pedestrian and car traffic, collisions into infrastructure, and effects on pets and children.

— Victor Jacobo, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of collisions

Verb

Watching how the United States treats detainees horrifies many Canadians, said Julia Sande, an immigration attorney with Amnesty International.

— Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 29 July 2026
Sunday was another game-long display of why Wembanyama horrifies opponents from either side of the ball.

— James Jackson, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026

Definition of horrifies

Verb

Each step sends a ripple through the spongy, thin mat, a slow undulating motion beneath your feet that surprises the senses, disorienting yet simultaneously strangely delightful.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
After more than 13 years of working together, Jordan rarely surprises me.

— Alla Adam, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of surprises

Verb

In the most basic sense, a film in which supernatural scares arise courtesy of negative space ought to at least have thoughtful framing, but the endless series of startles arrive with the same weight and energy as the fake outs.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Kennedy, who was an anti-vaccine activist before entering politics and has sent mixed messages to Americans about getting the measles vaccine, scares her.

— Ali Swenson, STAT, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of scares

Noun

The dwelling has evolved over the years as Jenner has matured and trends have shifted, now imbued with warm neutrals and an air of serenity rather than bold jolts of energy.

— Architectural Digest, Architectural Digest, 15 Sep. 2026
Riley, who finished with 232 all-purpose yards Friday, provided the jolts early as the Blackhawks used big plays to counter the grind-it-out attack used by Streamwood.

— Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of jolts

Verb

What amazes me is there seems to be a wide swath of Michiganders who don’t seem to mind being lied to.

— Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 24 Sep. 2026
His greatness is never in question, but to have the league at a standstill because of a 41-year-old free agent amazes me.

— Chris Branch, New York Times, 17 July 2026

Definition of amazes

Verb

The prospect of Sean Steur or Lewis Hall — whose contract situation Wilson refused to be drawn on, despite being asked three times — leaving is not something which frightens the hierarchy.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Penelope, too, is asked to occupy a landscape that frightens her, not only as a neurodivergent child in a neurotypical culture, but as a child now situated in an adult world.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of frightens

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shock jocks

shocks

shoddies

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

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Synonyms of shocks

noun

verb

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