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shock

shock

41 2.1
A sudden violent hit that moves something strongly
  • noun
  • /ʃɑk/
translation icon : choque
  • Your husband's death must have been a dreadful shock to them.
  • mechanical shock
  • shock and vibration
  • shock waves

She's she's going to use rainfall shocks as shocks to labor demand.

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Examples

  • When the hammer hit, he could feel the shock all the way up to his shoulder.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The sudden shock, the hard impact

  • Instead, the real economy must bear the shock: that is, domestic wages and prices must fall.

    Academic text (1999)
  • The rubber cushioned the shock against the wrist when the gig reached the end of its tether.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • In recent years, Cuba has suffered from the painful external shocks of exorbitant energy costs and rising food prices.

    Academic text (2012)
  • The shock from the car crash caused severe damage to the vehicles involved.

  • After the earthquake, the region experienced a shock that registered on the Richter scale.

  • The sudden shock of the explosion shook the buildings for miles around.

Synonyms

explosion
vsshock
2.8

A sudden violent burst that makes a loud noise and causes damage

is one cause of sudden violent impacts and wider disturbances
impact
vsshock
371 3.7

A sudden, forceful hit between two things

is about sudden violent contact but also covers broader disturbances
bang
vsshock
237 1.3

A sudden loud noise from a hit or impact

is more general, covering sudden violent impacts and other disturbances
collision
vsshock
148 3.8

A crash when two moving vehicles hit each other

is similar but also covers sudden disturbances and single object impacts
jolt
vsshock
64 3.8

A sudden hard movement that shocks or surprises you

is about general sudden violent impacts and wider disturbances
shock wave
vsshock
  • Specialized
33 4.0

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

is a pressure wave caused by force, while the key names the violent event
blast
vsshock
27 2.7

A sudden very loud noise that hurts your ears

is related but focuses on noise rather than the violent impact itself
impulse
vsshock
  • Specialized
23 4.2

A sudden push that makes a thing change speed or direction

is similar but is usually less violent and more about causing motion
jar
vsshock
20 6.9

A sudden strong shake or hit that makes you stumble

is broader and covers any sudden violent impact or general disturbance
wham
vsshock
  • Informal
15 3.6

A sudden loud sound when one thing hits another

is similar but also includes non hitting violent disturbances and collisions
smash
vsshock
7 3.7

A violent crash that causes a loud noise and damage

is broader, covering sudden violent impacts and general disturbances
concussion
vsshock
7 5.5

A strong shaking from a sudden impact that can break things

is the broader sudden violent event, not just the resulting shaking
bolt from the blue
vsshock
  • Informal
2 6.5

A sudden event that shocks people and is not expected

is more physical and violent, not only unexpected emotional events
impaction
vsshock
9.3

A strong hit that makes a sudden hard contact with something

is the broader term for sudden violent contact and general disturbance
jounce
vsshock
9.9

A sudden jolt that makes things shake

is broader, including violent impacts, collisions, or other sudden disturbances

Antonyms

38 3.5

A time of complete quiet and no movement that feels calm

Idioms

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

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 Violent

smash
7 3.7
shock
41 2.1
collision
148 3.8
jolt
64 3.8
bump
91 1.4

Surface Forms

shock singular
shocks plural

Etymology

Shock for a sudden impact comes from old words for a hard 'blow' or hit, so this sense names a sudden force or violent movement.