SHAKEN Synonyms: 95 Similar and Opposite Words

shaken

verb

past participle of shake

as in shuddered

to make a series of small irregular or violent movements the bus rattled and shook as it barreled down a rutted road

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in escaped

to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery we shook our pursuers by cutting through the abandoned lot

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of shaken In a certain weird way, that play became a turning point in a 27-19 win for the Chiefs because Stroud was visibly shaken and the Texans drooped from there. — Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026 The event, televised by dozens of channels across Serbia, capped a week of Vucic touring towns and villages in an apparent bid to shore up his popularity that's been shaken after almost two years of sustained anti-government protests. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026 Wright admitted his confidence was shaken last season when a knee injury hindered his development, and limited his opportunities early. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026 The tragedy has shaken students across campus Across campus, vending machines that offer free Narcan – an over-the-counter nasal spray version of naloxone used to rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose – have been emptied, WMC reported. — Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026 His steady hand has been shaken by the tragic death of his firstborn daughter. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026 The boy's mother said her son was shaken by the incident, but not injured. — Katie Houlis, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026 When warm water was used and the bottle was shaken, the powder was fully converted to gelatin and dissolved most of the pills. — Sunny Linnebur, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026 Polls open for the Duma ballot on 18 September – the first parliamentary election since Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine – and, despite ever greater public opposition to the war, Vladimir Putin’s grasp on power is unlikely to be shaken. — Will Barker, TheWeek, 17 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaken

Verb

Conservatives shuddered to think how close the country had come to permanent entangling alliances.

— Beverly Gage, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
McDonald’s shares fell nearly 5% Wednesday, their largest percentage drop since April 2025, as investors shuddered at the eye-popping price of improving McDonald’s 46,000 global stores.

— Dee-Ann Durbin, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of shuddered

Verb

On a scramble of roughly 20 yards, Katz escaped the pocket, broke tackles and juked defenders in the open field to extend the drive.

— D’Joumbarey Moreau, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026
The game itself was one of the best contests of the regular season, as Clark and Cunningham escaped Atlanta with an overtime victory, avenging their earlier losses to Reese and the Dream earlier in the season.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of escaped

Verb

During the test, Linton jerked and twitched in what prosecutors described as an attempt to fake a seizure.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Somewhere nearby, in a dark office, an eavesdropping oreja has just jerked to attention on his hard little chair.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of jerked

Verb

Fort Worth Eastern Hills improved to 2-0 in District 5-4A Division I behind running back Chris Johnson, who has 841 yards and 16 touchdowns in five games, as the Highlanders chase a district title that has evaded them since 1975.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2026
For the tax years 2022 and 2023, Steve Kim willfully evaded the assessment of income tax in the amount of $155,021, while Ted Kim willfully evaded the assessment of income tax in the amount of $97,354, prosecutors said.

— Julie Sharp, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of evaded

Verb

Thus, the races are not swayed by the wave of voters electing their presidential candidate of choice.

— Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Oct. 2026
And the beauty of the Bard is that his dramas can be swayed to suit modern sensibilities – without losing their original insight.

— Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of swayed

Verb

Indian cricketers have avoided handshakes with Pakistan players, and have refused to accept the trophy and medals from a Pakistani official at more than one tournament.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Then Baldwin avoided chasing a pair of sliders to even the count.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026