Jolt — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈjōlt/

Meaning & Definition of Jolt

Jolt (noun)

  1. an abrupt, sharp, jerky blow or movement
  2. a sudden feeling of shock, surprise, or disappointment
  3. an event or development causing such a feeling

Jolt (verb)

  1. to disturb the composure of, shock
  2. to interfere with roughly, abruptly, and disconcertingly
  3. to cause to move with a sudden jerky motion

Jolt (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a forceful coming together of two things

    "pack the glass vase so that it won't fall victim to any hard jolts in transit"

    similar: bump, collision, concussion, crash, impact, impingement, jar, jounce, kick, shock, slam, smash, strike, wallop
    related: blow, buffet, hit, knock, punch, rap, slap, thump, bashing, battering, bludgeoning, clobbering, hammering, lambasting, licking, pounding, pummeling, thrashing, contact, encounter, meeting, touch

  2. something that makes a strong impression because it is so unexpected

    "the news of the CEO's sudden retirement was a jolt to us all"

    similar: bombshell, jar, jaw-dropper, stunner, surprise, bolt from the blue
    related: shock, thunderclap, eye-opener, revelation, shocker, amazement, marvel, wonder, fillip, kick, kicker, twist, wrinkle

Jolt (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make a series of small irregular or violent movements

    "the roller coaster car jerked and jolted as it coursed along the old wooden tracks"

    similar: agitate, bucket, convulse, jerk, jiggle, joggle, jounce, judder (chiefly British), quake, quiver, shake, shudder, vibrate, wobble
    related: rock, sway, swing, chatter, quaver, shiver, thrill, tremble, twitch, dodder, waver, flicker, fluctuate, flutter, oscillate, undulate, wave, beat, palpitate, pit-a-pat, pitter-patter, pulsate, pulse, throb

  2. to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion

    "she jolted the door open with her elbow"

    similar: buck, hitch, hoick, jerk, twitch, yank
    related: bump, jounce, lurch, pitch, stagger, jig, jiggle, jog, joggle, shake, drag, lug, pull, tug, pluck, tweak, grab, rip, snap (up), snatch, tear, wrench, wrest, wring

  3. to cause an unpleasant surprise for

    "the sneak terrorist attack jolted the country out of its indolence and indifference"

    similar: appall, floor, shake up, shock, knock for a loop
    related: astonish, bowl over, dumbfound, flabbergast, freak (out), stun, stupefy, affright, alarm, dismay, fright, frighten, horrify, panic, scare, scarify, spook, startle, terrify, terrorize, disgust, nauseate, repel, revolt, sicken, turn off, displease, offend, outrage, scandalize, amaze, astound, awe, chill, daunt, demoralize, dispirit, emasculate, undo, unman, unnerve, unstring, discomfort, discompose, disconcert, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, shake, unsettle, upset, weird out, crush, overpower, overwhelm
    near: buffer, cushion, delight, gratify, please, rejoice, tickle, charm, entice, tempt, assure, cheer, comfort, console, solace, soothe, reassure

Related Entry: Jolt-wagon (noun)

Jolt-wagon is a different word from Jolt. The synonyms below are for jolt-wagon, not for jolt.

  1. as in dray, wagonette

    similar: dray, oxcart, spring wagon, wagonette, cart, wagon, wain, barrow, hand truck, pushcart, tram, truck, wheelbarrow

Related Entry: Jolt-wagons (noun)

Jolt-wagons is a different word from Jolt. The synonyms below are for jolt-wagons, not for jolt.

  1. as in drays, wagonettes

    similar: drays, oxcarts, spring wagons, wagonettes, carts, wagons, wains, barrows, hand trucks, pushcarts, trams, trucks, wheelbarrows

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Jolt

The most common words with a similar meaning to Jolt:

Chiefly British: judder
bump, collision, concussion, crash, impact, impingement, jar, jounce, kick, shock, slam, smash, strike, wallop, bombshell, jaw-dropper, stunner, surprise, bolt from the blue, agitate, bucket, convulse, jerk, jiggle, joggle, quake, quiver, shake, shudder, vibrate, wobble, buck, hitch, hoick, twitch, yank, appall, floor, shake up, knock for a loop

Related Words for Jolt

blow, buffet, hit, knock, punch, rap, slap, thump, bashing, battering, bludgeoning, clobbering, hammering, lambasting, licking, pounding, pummeling, thrashing, contact, encounter, meeting, touch, thunderclap, eye-opener, revelation, shocker, amazement, marvel, wonder, fillip

Near Antonyms of Jolt

buffer, cushion, delight, gratify, please, rejoice, tickle, charm, entice, tempt, assure, cheer, comfort, console, solace, soothe, reassure

Word Forms of Jolt

Inflections: jolted, jolting, jolts

Derived words: jolty (adjective), jolter (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Jolt

derivative of jolt:2

First known use: 1599

Words & Phrases Containing Jolt

jolt-wagon

Frequently Asked Questions about Jolt

What does "Jolt" mean?

"Jolt" means an abrupt, sharp, jerky blow or movement. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: an abrupt, sharp, jerky blow or movement. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Jolt"?

Other words for "Jolt" include bump, collision, concussion, crash, impact, impingement, jar and jounce. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Jolt" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Jolt"?

There are 171 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Jolt". Common alternatives include bump, collision, concussion, crash, impact, impingement, jar, jounce, kick and shock.

How do you use "Jolt" in a sentence?

Examples of "Jolt" in a sentence: "pack the glass vase so that it won't fall victim to any hard jolts in transit"; "the news of the CEO's sudden retirement was a jolt to us all"; "the roller coaster car jerked and jolted as it coursed along the old wooden tracks".

Is "Jolt" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Jolt" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Jolt"?

"Jolt" is pronounced /ˈjōlt/.

What is the origin of the word "Jolt"?

"Jolt" comes from derivative of jolt:2. First known use: 1599.

What is another word for "Jolt" meaning "a forceful coming together of two things"?

When "Jolt" (noun) means a forceful coming together of two things, synonyms include bump, collision, concussion, crash, impact and impingement.