Shock — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb adjective /ˈshäk/

Meaning & Definition of Shock

Shock (noun)

  1. a sudden or violent mental or emotional disturbance
  2. a disturbance in the equilibrium or permanence of something
  3. something that causes such disturbance
  4. a thick bushy mass (as of hair)
  5. a pile of sheaves of grain or stalks of corn set up in a field with the butt ends down

Shock (verb)

  1. to strike with surprise, terror, horror, or disgust
  2. to cause to undergo a physical or nervous shock
  3. to subject to the action of an electrical discharge
  4. to collect into shocks

Shock (adjective)

  1. bushy, shaggy

Shock (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a forceful coming together of two things

    "the whole railway platform shook from the shock of the two trains colliding"

    similar: bump, collision, concussion, crash, impact, impingement, jar, jolt, jounce, kick, 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. 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"

    similar: amazement, astonishment, startlement, stupefaction, surprise
    related: awe, wonder, wonderment, startle, bewilderment, confusion, consternation, discomfiture, dismay

Shock (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: appall, floor, jolt, shake up, 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

  2. to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected

    "were shocked by the way the law against public intoxication was constantly being broken"

    similar: amaze, astonish, astound, bowl over, dumbfound, flabbergast, floor, rock, startle, stun, stupefy, surprise, thunderstrike, knock for a loop, take aback, take by surprise
    related: befuddle, bewilder, blindside, blow away, confound, confuse, daze, discomfit, disconcert, dismay, jar, muddle, nonplus, perplex, shake up

  3. to strike with fear

    "the sudden appearance of the ghost shocked us to the core"

    similar: affright, alarm, fright, frighten, horrify, panic, scare, scarify, spook, startle, terrify, terrorize, give one the creeps, make one's flesh creep
    related: appall, bowl over, dismay, floor, jolt, shake, shake up, amaze, astound, awe, chill, daunt, demoralize, dispirit, emasculate, psych (out), undo, unman, unnerve, unstring, discomfort, discompose, disconcert, disquiet, distract, distress, disturb, perturb, unsettle, upset, worry
    opposite: reassure
    near: assure, cheer, comfort, console, solace, soothe, embolden, encourage, hearten, inspire, steel

Related Entry: Shock jock (noun)

Shock jock is a different word from Shock. The synonyms below are for shock jock, not for shock.

  1. as in DJ, disc jockey

    similar: disc jockey, DJ, veejay, VJ, mistress of ceremonies, huckster, pitchman, announcer, emcee, host, MC, anchor, anchorman, anchorperson, anchorwoman, newscaster, CBer, ham, radioman

Related Entry: Shock jocks (noun)

Shock jocks is a different word from Shock. The synonyms below are for shock jocks, not for shock.

  1. as in DJs, disc jockeys

    similar: disc jockeys, DJs, veejays, VJs, mistresses of ceremonies, hucksters, pitchmen, announcers, emcees, hosts, MCs, anchormen, anchorpersons, anchors, anchorwomen, newscasters, CBers, hams, radiomen

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Shock

The most common words with a similar meaning to Shock:

bump, collision, concussion, crash, impact, impingement, jar, jolt, jounce, kick, slam, smash, strike, wallop, amazement, astonishment, startlement, stupefaction, surprise, appall, floor, shake up, amaze, astonish, astound, bowl over, dumbfound, flabbergast, rock, startle, stun, stupefy, thunderstrike, affright, alarm, fright, frighten, horrify, panic, scare

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Shock

Words with the opposite meaning of Shock:

reassure

Related Words for Shock

blow, buffet, hit, knock, punch, rap, slap, thump, bashing, battering, bludgeoning, clobbering, hammering, lambasting, licking, pounding, pummeling, thrashing, contact, encounter, meeting, touch, awe, wonder, wonderment, bewilderment, confusion, consternation, discomfiture, dismay

Near Antonyms of Shock

buffer, cushion, delight, gratify, please, rejoice, tickle, charm, entice, tempt, assure, cheer, comfort, console, solace, soothe, embolden, encourage, hearten, inspire, steel

Word Forms of Shock

Inflections: shocked, shocking, shocks

Derived words: shockable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Shock

Middle French choc, from choquer to strike against, from Old French choquier, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch schocken to jolt

First known use: 1550

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Shock

Words & Phrases Containing Shock

shock absorber, shock front, shock jock, shock therapy

Frequently Asked Questions about Shock

What does "Shock" mean?

"Shock" means a sudden or violent mental or emotional disturbance. As an a noun, a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: a sudden or violent mental or emotional disturbance. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Shock"?

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

What are different ways to say "Shock"?

There are 127 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Shock". Common alternatives include bump, collision, concussion, crash, impact, impingement, jar, jolt, jounce and kick.

What is the opposite of "Shock"?

Antonyms of "Shock" include reassure. Near antonyms include buffer, cushion, delight and gratify.

How do you use "Shock" in a sentence?

Examples of "Shock" in a sentence: "the whole railway platform shook from the shock of the two trains colliding"; "were in shock after they heard the news of the death of the president"; "Mom was shocked by the terrible news that her cousin had died in an accident".

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

"Shock" can be used as a noun, a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Shock" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Shock" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Shock"?

"Shock" is pronounced /ˈshäk/.