to jolt

Examples

• All

• The jangle of the phone jolted Austin out of his reverie.

  Fiction book (1999)

• The sudden movement of the train jolted the passengers in their seats.

• "I suppose under the circumstances they were trying to jolt me into telling the truth.

  Fiction book (1990)

• "You, Bob, where have you traveled?" she asked, trying to jolt him awake.

  Fiction book (2001)

• Her excitement shot through me like a current, jolting the fear out of me.

  Fiction book (2002)

• The sound of Mrs. Washington's voice jolted Jack out of his memories.

  Academic text (2011)

• "Junior!" she shouted over at her son, who jolted at her tone despite being thirty-six and the father of three.

  Fiction book (1999)

• And I'm fast asleep dreaming the dreams of a 10 year old of Garbage Pail Kids and Goonies and I am jolted awake.

  30 Years of Garbage: The Garbage Pail Kids Story (2017)

• The loud noise from the traffic jolted me out of my thoughts.

• The startling news jolted him into realizing he needed to take action.

Synonyms

S

to shake

vsto jolt

217 5.3

To make someone lose confidence or feel upset

disturbs calm suddenly rather than causing a slow loss of confidence

S

to shock

vsto jolt

208 2.1

To cause someone to feel sudden surprise and distress

upsets calm of a person suddenly but without always causing deep distress

S

to spook

vsto jolt

119 4.8

To suddenly frighten a person or animal so they panic

disturbs calm suddenly without necessarily causing panic or strong fear

R

to rock

vsto jolt

99 4.4

To cause a sudden strong shock or upset to people

disturbs calm briefly and unexpectedly rather than deeply altering feelings

S

to shake up

vsto jolt

81 4.2

To upset someone strongly and change how they feel

disturbs composure suddenly but usually without deep long lasting effects

S

to startle

vsto jolt

75 3.7

To make someone react suddenly because they feel surprised or afraid

upsets calm in a way that disturbs composure rather than triggers quick reaction

F

to flinch

vsto jolt

64 4.1

Move back quickly because of pain, fear or surprise

alters composure emotionally rather than producing a brief involuntary bodily pullback

J

to jump

vsto jolt

50 1.0

To move or start suddenly because you are surprised

upsets calm suddenly in feelings rather than causing visible body motion

S

to stun

vsto jolt

38 3.0

To surprise someone so much they cannot react for a short time

alters composure suddenly but does not always render someone unable to respond

G

to give someone chills

vsto jolt

17 5.8

To cause a sudden feeling of fear or strong excitement that makes someone shiver

disturbs composure emotionally or mentally rather than causing a physical shiver

J

to jar

vsto jolt

9 5.3

To move or make something move with a sudden strong shake

disturbs a person's calm suddenly rather than producing physical shaking

S

to stagger

vsto jolt

4 3.8

Surprise someone very much

disturbs calm suddenly but usually without producing visible amazed reaction

K

to knock over with a feather

vsto jolt

• Informal

2 8.8

To be so surprised that you almost cannot react

causes sudden upset but typically not to the point of near inability

H

to hit like a lightning bolt

vsto jolt

1 8.2

To feel sudden shock or surprise

upsets calm quickly but usually with less sudden overwhelming force

S

to shock the hell out of someone

vsto jolt

• Informal

8.1

To surprise someone suddenly and very strongly

disturbs composure suddenly but generally in a less extreme and more neutral manner

Antonyms

C

to calm

∞ 1.0

Make a person or animal less upset

R

to reassure

123 3.4

To make someone feel less worried and more confident

How Startling

to traumatize

102 6.9

to shock

208 2.1

to jolt

16 4.3

to startle

75 3.7

to surprise

712 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology