shock 1 of 2

noun

ˈshäk How to pronounce shock (audio)
Definition of shocknext
1
as in collision
a forceful coming together of two things the whole railway platform shook from the shock of the two trains colliding

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in astonishment
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

shock

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to appall
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to surprise
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected were shocked by the way the law against public intoxication was constantly being broken

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to scare
to strike with fear the sudden appearance of the ghost shocked us to the core

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word shock different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of shock are collision, concussion, and impact. While all these words mean "a forceful, even violent contact between two or more things," shock often denotes the effect produced by a collision and carries the suggestion of something that strikes or hits with force.

the shock of falling rocks

When can collision be used instead of shock?

In some situations, the words collision and shock are roughly equivalent. However, collision implies the coming together of two or more things with such force that both or all are damaged or their progress is severely impeded.

the collision damaged the vehicle

Where would concussion be a reasonable alternative to shock?

The synonyms concussion and shock are sometimes interchangeable, but concussion when not in technical use, often suggests the shattering, disrupting, or weakening effects of a collision, explosion, or blow.

bystanders felt the concussion of the blast

When is impact a more appropriate choice than shock?

The words impact and shock can be used in similar contexts, but impact may be used to imply contact between two things, at least one of which is impelled toward the other.

the glass shattered on impact with the floor

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 shock
Noun
The procurement notice for the robot dog comes after the Department of Homeland Security approved spending $16 million for ICE to purchase electric shock gloves to give to officers around the country. — Luke Barr, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 Production shocks in one region can travel through interconnected food supply chains, contributing to shortages and price spikes elsewhere. — Shooka Bidarian, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
In 1974, the New York City music scene was shocked into consciousness by the violently new and raw sound of a band of misfits from Queens called the Ramones. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026 The family's decision to return home to Harry's home country after six years in California shocked both sides of the Atlantic, sparking a range of reactions from confusion to celebration. — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shock
  1. collision
  2. astonishment
  3. appall
  4. surprise
  5. scare
  6. jolt
  7. amazement
  8. horrify
Noun
  • The collision was at least partially blamed for preventing the Reds from recording the third out and allowing the inning to continue.
    — Chantz Martin OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The minibus taxi burst into flames and was reduced to a shell following the collision, according to local media, which published pictures of the wreckage.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of collision
Noun
  • The Platts look on with astonishment when their idyllic 1970s neighborhood appears to be transported way back in time.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 30 July 2026
  • The revelation itself becomes part of the artwork, shifting the experience from astonishment to reflection and encouraging a more critical examination of the assumptions that shape everyday life.
    — Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of astonishment
Verb
  • Her supporters and longtime Christian collaborators are appalled by the backlash.
    — Peter Smith, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Perhaps most viscerally, given the ever-present specter of nuclear annihilation during the Cold War, Capps was appalled by Falwell’s apocalyptic rhetoric and cavalier posture toward global destruction.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of appall
Verb
  • Ramirez-Smith, whose law firm is located in Nampa, Canyon County’s largest city, wasn’t surprised by how closely the Canyon County probation department was working with ICE.
    — Rachel Spacek, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • One person not surprised by Yancy’s win was Lauren Beth Gash, the founding chair of the Tenth Congressional District Democrats.
    — Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of surprise
Verb
  • Smaller payouts scare off potential investors, meaning promising treatments are often left on a shelf.
    — Brad Quick, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Historians say the horns may have been blown to scare evil spirits, to proclaim victories, or as a way to encourage divine mercy.
    — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of scare
Noun
  • Many reported the worst jolts to the head coming near the end.
    — Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Nicki Minaj arrives with a playful verse that adds another jolt of personality before the song launches back into its dance-floor pulse.
    — Brittney Williams, Billboard, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of jolt
Noun
  • Dos Santos stared toward the clock in amazement after finishing the 400-meter hurdles Thursday night at the Diamond League meet in Zurich.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Sitting in a swivel chair in a hotel conference room, Victor Peng stares out the window at the Chicago River with a look of amazement.
    — Tal Rosenberg, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of amazement
Verb
  • His portrayal of Pennywise horrified a generation of children—without relying heavily on special effects or prosthetics.
    — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 26 Aug. 2026
  • One of her sisters, Sierra Francis, was especially horrified by Miller’s possessive nature.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of horrify

Browse Nearby Words

shoals
shock
shocked
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shock. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on shock

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shock

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All