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to shock

to shock

202 2.1
To cause someone to feel sudden surprise and distress
  • verb
  • /ʃɑk/
translation icon : chocar
  • Recent events at my own university and elsewhere have shocked me into a new sobriety on this score.
  • shock people
  • shock the reader
  • shock friends

My mother will never come out and I was shocked, but she was right.

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Examples

  • Sometimes you just need to shock your body into waking up.

  • The news about the accident will undoubtedly shock many people in the community.

  • Yes, I need to shock him.

  • Does this not shock you, ladies?

  • Are you confident that you can, I guess, shock the world again?

  • You know, we tried to shock some of the viewers, seemed to work.

    GQ
  • Well, I'm just going to have to shock you till you say yes.

  • So here's something that might shock you, all right?

  • So freshman year I shocked the school with my prediction.

  • The next day, Beckham faced the press in an interview that shocked the world.

Synonyms

to startle
vsto shock
131 3.7

To make someone react suddenly because they feel surprised or afraid

usually causes action while key can cause passive distress or disbelief
to rock
vsto shock
107 4.4

To cause a sudden strong shock or upset to people

is more about causing surprise or disbelief than long upset
to appall
vsto shock
64 5.5

To make someone feel shocked and very upset by something cruel or wrong

leans toward moral horror rather than general surprise or disbelief
to astound
vsto shock
41 4.2

To surprise someone very much and make them feel amazed

tends to include distress or disbelief as possible reactions
to take aback
vsto shock
39 4.2

To surprise someone so much that they do not know what to say

is broader covering sudden distress or disbelief as well as surprise
to floor
vsto shock
15 6.6

To surprise someone so much they cannot react

can also mean sudden strong emotion but not always cause brief paralysis
to astonish
vsto shock
13 3.5

To surprise someone very much

often implies distress or disbelief not only wonder
to scandalize
vsto shock
12 7.0

To shock or offend people by behaving in a way many think is wrong

is narrower focusing on moral offense rather than general surprise or distress
to stun
vsto shock
11 3.0

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

may not leave the person temporarily unable to react
to stupefy
vsto shock
9 7.9

To make someone unable to think or react after a very strong shock

is often less extreme causing surprise without mental paralysis
to flabbergast
vsto shock
8 7.4

To surprise someone very much

is similar but can also cause distress rather than only amazement
to jolt
vsto shock
8 4.3

To surprise someone and make them react

is broader covering surprise distress or disbelief rather than only disturbance
to stagger
vsto shock
7 3.8

Surprise someone very much

often focuses on emotional disturbance not only disbelief or surprise
to scare the bejesus out of
vsto shock
  • Informal
5 8.8

To make someone very afraid

focuses on fear rather than general surprise distress or disbelief
to scare the bejesus
vsto shock
  • Informal
5 9.0

To frighten someone very much by a sudden event or loud noise

uses fear focus while the key covers surprise distress or disbelief
to blow out of the water
vsto shock
  • Informal
4 6.8

To surprise and beat someone or something by a large amount

is about causing emotional reaction not winning or defeating
to shock the hell out of someone
vsto shock
  • Informal
2 8.1

To surprise someone suddenly and very strongly

is the same idea but in a stronger more extreme way
to knock over with a feather
vsto shock
  • Informal
1 8.8

To be so surprised that you almost cannot react

is similar but less idiomatic and can cover other reactions
to ball over
vsto shock
  • Informal
8.5

To make someone feel very surprised

is more likely to include sudden distress or disbelief

To feel sudden shock or surprise

is similar but not always so instantaneous or violent

Antonyms

172 1.0

To make someone feel less upset or in pain

163 3.4

To make someone feel less worried and more confident

Idioms

A sudden change in life or work that feels unpleasant and hard to handle

Phrasal Verbs

To surprise someone suddenly and very strongly

To shake hard because you feel very surprised or upset

To feel so shocked for a short time that you cannot think or speak

Compounds

shock wave
  • Specialized
33 4.0

A sudden strong wave of air and energy that moves away from an explosion or impact

A very stunned and numb feeling after a sudden bad event

A sudden pain or injury when electricity passes through the body

anaphylactic shock
  • Specialized
10 6.7

A severe, fast allergic reaction causing breathing problems and low blood pressure needing quick treatment

A feeling of confusion and worry when you go to live in a new country

shock therapy
  • Specialized
8 5.1

A treatment that uses electric shocks to treat severe mental illness

shell shock
  • Archaic
5 7.5

A severe emotional and physical reaction after a long time in war or heavy fighting

shock treatment
  • Specialized
4 5.8

A medical procedure that uses electric shocks to the brain to help severe mental illness

4 6.5

A strong surprise when a price is much higher than expected

A sudden pain and muscle tightening when electricity passes through the body

toxic shock
  • Specialized
4 7.7

A rare dangerous illness from bacteria causing high fever, rash, low blood pressure and organ problems linked to tampon use

shock and awe
  • Literature
4 6.3

A sudden, powerful action that surprises, frightens, and impresses people

shock absorber
  • Specialized
3 3.9

A part on a vehicle that reduces bumps when you drive

shock troops
  • Specialized
2 7.3

Soldiers trained to lead attacks by fighting at the front

hypovolemic shock
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A very serious condition when the body loses too much blood or fluid and organs do not get enough blood

toxic shock syndrome
  • Specialized
1 5.5

A rare dangerous illness from bacteria causing high fever, rash, and low blood pressure, often linked to tampon use

cardiogenic shock
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A serious condition in which the heart suddenly cannot pump enough blood to the body and may be life threatening

insulin shock
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A condition when blood sugar becomes very low after too much insulin, causing fainting

insulin shock
  • Specialized
1 7.2

A severe effect or treatment using too much insulin that causes uncontrolled shaking and coma

shock-absorbent
  • Specialized
1 5.1

Able to make the force of a hit or fall much weaker

distributive shock
  • Specialized
8.1

A dangerous state where blood does not reach parts of the body because small blood vessels become too wide

metrazol shock
  • Archaic
9.9

A medical treatment that uses a drug to cause seizures and coma

A medical treatment using Metrazol to cause seizures and coma

A medical treatment from the past that gave injections to cause strong seizures to treat mental illness

9.8

A past treatment for mental illness that used large insulin doses to cause fits and coma

A medical treatment that uses large doses of insulin to cause seizures and coma, formerly used for serious mental illness

obstructive shock
  • Specialized
8.1

A condition where blood flow is blocked so organs do not get enough blood

How Shocking

to traumatize
87 6.9
to shock
202 2.1
to astonish
13 3.5
to surprise
1.0

Surface Forms

shock infinitive
shocked past
shocked past participle
shocking present participle
shocks third person singular

Etymology

To shock someone comes from the same old idea of giving a sudden 'strike' or surprise, so to shock is to cause someone sudden surprise or distress.