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Glite Dictionary
⚡ A hard shock 😲 To startle 🚗 To shake roughly
jolt

jolt

53 3.8
A sudden hard movement that shocks or surprises you
  • noun
  • /dʒoʊlt/
: sacudida
  • Several times our hands touched, and a jolt went through me.
  • receive a jolt
  • a jolt of electricity
  • a much-needed jolt

You get this sharp jolt of pain that goes right to your brain, right?

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Examples

  • The sudden jolt from the car hitting the pothole made me spill my coffee.

  • You get this sharp jolt of pain that goes right to your brain, right?

    Stanford

  • The reforms were sudden and produced a real jolt to the economy and people.

    Academic text (1991)

  • The third time the jolt was so powerful it knocked me backward.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • The frigid air was a jolt after the cozy world of the library.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • The next one caught him under the eye, sending a jolt of pain through Quinn's knuckles.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Luke is fastening his seat belt when there's a sudden jolt, then complete silence.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • After the earthquake, many residents experienced a jolt that rattled their confidence in the building's safety.

  • She felt a jolt when she stumbled upon the unexpected news about her promotion.

Synonyms

shock
vsjolt
72 2.1

A sudden violent hit that moves something strongly

is less about collision and more about a sudden hard jerky movement
jerk
vsjolt
47 2.2

A sudden sharp movement or pull

is usually harder and more forceful rather than a quick motion
shudder
vsjolt
19 4.1

A sudden, uncontrolled shaking of the body from fear, cold, or strong feeling

is a sharp external shock or jerky movement rather than internal trembling
start
vsjolt
9 1.0

A sudden small movement caused by surprise or fear

is an external abrupt hard movement not caused by emotion
jar
vsjolt
2 6.9

A sudden strong shake or hit that makes you stumble

is similar but highlights sudden hard or jerky movement generally
jounce
vsjolt
1 9.9

A sudden jolt that makes things shake

is used for any sudden hard movement not just bumping impacts

Antonyms

calm
680 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

stillness
35 3.5

A time of complete quiet and no movement that feels calm

How Strong

shock
72 2.1
jolt
53 3.8
jerk
47 2.2
bump
124 1.4
nudge
29 3.5

Surface Forms

jolt singular
jolts plural

Etymology

The word jolt likely comes from a short, sharp sound that copies a quick hit or bump. That's why a jolt is a sudden 'shake' or 'shock'.