1
: an abrupt, sharp, jerky blow or movement
awoke with a jolt
2
a(1)
: a sudden feeling of shock, surprise, or disappointment
the news gave them a jolt
(2)
: an event or development causing such a feeling
the defeat was quite a jolt
b
: a serious setback or reverse
a severe financial jolt
3
: a small but potent or bracing portion of something
a jolt of horseradish
jolted; jolting; jolts
1
a
: to disturb the composure of : shock
crudely jolted out of that mood—
Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolfan announcement that jolted the community
b
: to interfere with roughly, abruptly, and disconcertingly
determination to pursue his own course was jolted badly—F. L. Paxson
F. L. Paxson2
: to cause to move with a sudden jerky motion
passengers being jolted along a bumpy road
3
: to give a knock or blow to
specifically
: to jar with a quick or hard blow
: to move with a sudden jerky motion
jolter
noun
Synonyms
Examples of jolt in a Sentence
Noun
I sprang out of bed with a jolt.
The car stopped with a jolt.
I got quite a jolt when I heard the door slam.
The defeat was quite a jolt to the team.
The stock market suffered a major jolt yesterday.
She needed a jolt of caffeine to start her day.
The unexpected praise he received gave him a jolt of confidence.
Verb
The explosion jolted the ship.
He was jolted forward when the bus stopped suddenly.
The loud bang jolted me awake.
The attack jolted the country into action.
She jolted the medical world with her announcement.
Recent Examples on the Web
Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024
Such a jolt could knock a person off their feet or cause fatal disruption to their heart rhythm.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 31 Oct. 2024
Scherzinger’s ravenous performance provides a great part of the adrenaline, but the show is also jolted into new life by the collision of the spartan Lloydiverse with all the plush and purple of Lloyd Webber’s score.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for jolt 
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Noun
And when the veteran Rams receiver returned to the lineup Thursday night after a four-game absence, the recently moribund offense anticipated a welcome jolt.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024
Such a jolt could knock a person off their feet or cause fatal disruption to their heart rhythm.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
Verb
The robot suddenly jolts backward, reassesses, and then places the cover in its correct location.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 31 Oct. 2024
Scherzinger’s ravenous performance provides a great part of the adrenaline, but the show is also jolted into new life by the collision of the spartan Lloydiverse with all the plush and purple of Lloyd Webber’s score.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for jolt
Dictionary Entries Near jolt
Cite this Entry
“Jolt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jolt. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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