earthquake

noun

earth·​quake ˈərth-ˌkwāk How to pronounce earthquake (audio)
Synonyms of earthquakenext
1
: a shaking or trembling of the earth that is volcanic or tectonic in origin
2
: upheaval sense 2

Synonyms of earthquake

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Examples of earthquake in a Sentence

a building destroyed by earthquake the San Andreas Fault is notorious for its earthquakes
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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.
The earthquake's epicenter was roughly 18 miles west of Petrolia and occurred at a depth of 8 miles. — Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2026 According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the earthquake also left more than 45,000 homes damaged, 9,000 destroyed, and 140 buildings collapsed. — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 30 Oct. 2026 If next week is an electoral earthquake, Fox’s ratings are a foreshock, signaling what may be coming. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026 The RealReal, an online marketplace for resale luxury goods, was an earthquake of an idea when it was introduced, but the business has had to make several course corrections over the years, and now seems to be getting into something of a rhythm. — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for earthquake

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of earthquake was in the 14th century

Rhymes for earthquake

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Browse Nearby Words

earth quadrant
earthquake
earthquaked
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Cite this Entry

“Earthquake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earthquake. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

earthquake

noun
earth·​quake ˈərth-ˌkwāk How to pronounce earthquake (audio)
: a shaking or trembling of a portion of the earth

More from Merriam-Webster on earthquake

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about earthquake

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