earthquakes

NOUN

tremor from inside the earth

Synonyms

STRONGEST

shock temblor upheaval

STRONG

convulsion fault microseism movement quake quaker seism shake slip trembler undulation

WEAK

macroseism seimicity seismism

Antonyms

STRONG

perfection

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Venezuela's interim leader declared a state of emergency Wednesday as two massive earthquakes caused buildings in the capital to crumble and forced the closure of the country's main airport.

From Barron's • Jun. 25, 2026

Two powerful earthquakes hit Venezuela on Wednesday, causing buildings to collapse in the capital of Caracas and rattling other cities as videos posted online showed people scrambling for safety.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 25, 2026

Researchers also hope to tap into whatever sixth sense animals use to flee tsunamis, earthquakes and eruptions, and develop early-warning systems for vulnerable human settlements.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

"These areas have experienced strong earthquakes before. This is one of the strongest."

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

Most earthquakes occur when sections of the earth’s crust far below the surface rub up against one another, get stuck, and then jerk free all at once.

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone