as in earthquake
a shaking of the earth
the quake registered 6.5 on the Richter scale, causing widespread damage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to shake
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements
the horror film was so scary it left us quaking with fear for hours afterwards
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of quake
William B. Davis, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
No one reported feeling the quake, according to the USGS, which also received no reports of damage.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 3 Jan. 2026
Greg Cote
september 4, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
When President Donald Trump last rolled out tariffs this high, financial markets quaked, consumer confidence crashed and his popularity plunged.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for quake
Noun
When aftershock data is available, the corresponding maps and charts include earthquakes within 100 miles and seven days of the initial quake.
—Verb
The defensive star’s recent trade from Dallas to Green Bay quaked the NFL.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for quake
Noun
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It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year.—
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Thirty-two years ago, freeways fell, buildings flattened and local communities were reshaped forever by the earthquake.—
Verb
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Light shaking was detected, and people in several cities - including Hercules, San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland and Fremont - reported feeling the tremor, according to the USGS DYFI report.—
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Trim the dead parts, shake the soil off, and store them in a cool, dark location where they are protected from the cold.—
Noun
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Weak to light shaking has been recorded and residents reported experiencing the tremor in a couple of cities, including Danville and San Ramon, according to the USGS DYFI report.—
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The tremor was about five miles from Coalcoman de Vazquez Pallares, a municipality of around 20,000 people, about 372 miles west of Mexico City.—
Verb
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East Denver sushi fans shuddered in late December when Okinawa Japanese Cuisine, a mainstay on Colfax Avenue since 2010, closed and boarded up its doors with brown paper.—
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The deference with which that body has bowed to presidential fiat would make Page and William Maclay shudder.—
Verb
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Aisha jerked and opened her eyes.—
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That jerking motion, combined with detergent and water, loosens dirt from the surfaces of clothing.—
Verb
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The kind of person who trembles at watermarks is not the sort of person who dares to put marble in the dishwasher.—
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The Maine trembled and angled up, then listed to port, throwing him from his chair.—
Verb
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From vibrating steering wheels, haptic smartwatches, and even gaming controllers.—
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The vibrating bristles of this electric version can break up and sweep away plaque more effectively.—
Verb
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Audiences are already quivering with anticip— ation.—
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A-fib is an irregular, quivering or often rapid heart rhythm resulting from the heart’s upper chambers, the atria, beating out of sync with the lower chambers, the ventricles.—
Cite this Entry
“Quake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quake. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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