1
as in quake
a shaking of the earth
the San Andreas Fault is notorious for its earthquakes
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in upheaval
a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order)
the election of the socialist candidate caused a political earthquake that nearly led to a military coup
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of earthquake
The indictment set off a political earthquake in Mexico and poses a major dilemma for the ruling Morena party, whose founder, former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, rose to power on a promise to fight entrenched corruption.
—
Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Haitians joined the program in 2010 after a catastrophic earthquake and have been extended multiple times amid ongoing gang violence that has displaced more than a million people, according to court documents.
—Lindsay Whitehurst, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
An earthquake the night prior knocked out the town’s power.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 Apr. 2026
The mural, designed to last 100 years, made it through the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake with only one small crack, according to a 2015 Bay Area News Group story.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for earthquake
Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Haitians joined the program in 2010 after a catastrophic earthquake and have been extended multiple times amid ongoing gang violence that has displaced more than a million people, according to court documents.
—Lindsay Whitehurst, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
An earthquake the night prior knocked out the town’s power.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 Apr. 2026
The mural, designed to last 100 years, made it through the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake with only one small crack, according to a 2015 Bay Area News Group story.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for earthquake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for earthquake
Noun
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Residents in multiple cities - such as Palm Springs, Riverside and Beaumont - reported feeling the quake, according to the USGS DYFI report.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
27 Apr. 2026
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When aftershock data is available, the corresponding maps and charts include earthquakes within 100 miles and seven days of the initial quake.—
William B. Davis,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Mayor Dean Trantalis and Commissioner Steve Glassman behave as though Fort Lauderdale is their personal canvas for legacy-building, rather than a city facing multi‑year budget deficits, potential property tax upheaval, and residents already stretched thin.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
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During Francis’s pontificate, the Vatican appointed an AI adviser who worked with Silicon Valley leaders, heads of state, and the United Nations to protect those most vulnerable to the coming technological upheaval.—
Elias Wachtel,
The Atlantic,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Some patients on chlorpromazine developed mild tremors or tics.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
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Some of the common symptoms that impact movement include tremors in one or both hands, stiffness (also known as rigidity), slow movements and balance problems.—
Mary Eber,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That is, up until the 1911 census, after which unrest put the practice on pause.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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Turkey denies the deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been inflated and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Promised the workforce Every technology revolution in history — steam, electricity, computers, the internet — has promised the workforce more free time.—
Phil Blair,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
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Topics of concern included the AI revolution that is transforming how students learn and forcing educators to rethink pedagogy.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
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Some storms could produce hail larger than 3 inches in diameter, especially with stronger rotating cells.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Earthquake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earthquake. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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