Shake vs. Wobble — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 1, 2024
Shake involves rapid, often forceful movement back and forth, while wobble denotes unsteady, side-to-side motions.
Difference Between Shake and Wobble
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Shake typically refers to a vigorous movement back and forth or up and down, often resulting from force or effort applied by an external source or an internal mechanism. In contrast, wobble describes a less consistent, teetering movement, suggesting instability or imbalance that causes an object or person to move unsteadily from side to side.
When you shake something, the action is intentional, with a clear aim to move it rapidly. This can be to mix, remove dust, or signal agitation. Wobble, however, often occurs without deliberate intent, resulting from unevenness or a lack of stability in the object’s base or structure.
The concept of shaking is common in various contexts, such as shaking a bottle to mix its contents or shaking a limb to show defiance. Wobble is frequently observed in objects or situations that inherently lack balance, such as a wobbly table or a person wobbling on an unstable surface.
Shaking can be controlled and stopped once the desired outcome is achieved, indicating a purposeful and sometimes temporary action. Wobbling, on the other hand, usually requires external intervention to correct the imbalance causing the movement.
Both shaking and wobbling can signify or lead to a loss of stability, but shaking often conveys a more dynamic or energetic action, whereas wobbling suggests a precarious or fragile equilibrium that could easily lead to falling or failure.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Rapid movement back and forth or up and down.
Unsteady, side-to-side movements.
Intentionality
Often intentional and purposeful.
Usually unintentional, indicating instability.
Contexts
Mixing, removing, agitation, signaling.
Imbalance, instability, precariousness.
Control
Can be controlled and stopped.
Often requires correction for stability.
Connotation
Dynamic, energetic action.
Precarious or fragile equilibrium.
Compare with Definitions
Shake
A gesture of greeting or agreement made by clasping hands.
They sealed the deal with a firm shake.
Wobble
To exhibit tremulous or fluctuating movement or sound.
His voice wobbled with emotion.
Shake
To tremble or vibrate due to force or emotion.
The earthquake made the whole house shake.
Wobble
To move unsteadily from side to side.
The table wobbles because one leg is shorter than the others.
Shake
To agitate or disturb a state or position.
The news shook the community.
Wobble
A condition of instability or fluctuation.
The economy is on a wobble due to the recent events.
Shake
To move back and forth or up and down with rapid, forceful movements.
He had to shake the bottle well before using the sauce.
Wobble
To oscillate or vary between different states or conditions.
The spacecraft wobbled during re-entry but stabilized soon after.
Shake
To remove or dislodge by vigorous motion.
She shook the rug to get rid of the dust.
Wobble
The act of wobbling; an unsteady motion.
A wobble in his step betrayed his nervousness.
Shake
(of a structure or area of land) tremble or vibrate
Buildings shook in Sacramento and tremors were felt in Reno
Wobble
To move or rotate with an uneven or rocking motion or unsteadily from side to side.
Shake
Move (an object) up and down or from side to side with rapid, forceful, jerky movements
She stood in the hall and shook her umbrella
Wobble
To tremble or quaver
The child's voice wobbled with emotion.
Shake
Upset the composure or confidence of; shock or astonish
The boy was visibly shaken
Rumours of a further loss shook the market
Wobble
To waver or vacillate in one's opinions or feelings.
Shake
An act of shaking
She gave her red curls a vehement shake
Wobble
To cause to wobble.
Shake
A fit of trembling or shivering
I wouldn't go in there, it gives me the shakes
Wobble
The act or an instance of wobbling; unsteady motion.
Shake
Short for milkshake
Wobble
A tremulous, uncertain tone or sound
A vocal wobble.
Shake
An earth tremor.
Wobble
An unsteady motion.
The fat man walked down the street with a wobble.
Shake
A trill.
Wobble
A tremulous sound.
There was a wobble on her high notes.
Shake
A kind of rough wooden shingle, used especially on rustic buildings
Cedar shakes
Wobble
(music) A low-frequency oscillation sometimes used in dubstep
Shake
To cause to move from side to side or up and down with jerky movements
I shook the juice container.
Wobble
(genetics) A variation in the third nucleotide of a codon that codes for a specific aminoacid
Shake
To cause to tremble, vibrate, or rock
The earthquake shook the ground. The wind shook the barley.
Wobble
(intransitive) To move with an uneven or rocking motion, or unsteadily to and fro.
The Earth wobbles slowly on its axis;
The jelly wobbled on the plate
Shake
To brandish or wave, especially in anger
Shake one's fist.
Wobble
(intransitive) To tremble or quaver.
The soprano's voice wobbled alarmingly.
Shake
To cause to lose stability or strength, as of conviction
A crisis that has shaken my deepest beliefs.
Wobble
(intransitive) To vacillate in one's opinions.
I'm wobbling between the Liberals and the Greens.
Shake
To disturb or agitate emotionally; upset or unnerve
She was shaken by the news of the disaster.
Wobble
(transitive) To cause to wobble.
The boy wobbled the girl's bike.
Shake
To remove or dislodge by jerky movements
Shook the dust from the cushions.
Wobble
See Wabble.
Shake
To scatter or strew by jerky movements
Shook the salt on the popcorn.
Wobble
An unsteady rocking motion
Shake
To get rid of or put an end to
Could not shake the feeling that things would not work out.
Wanted to shake his habit of snacking.
Wobble
Move unsteadily;
His knees wobbled
The old cart wobbled down the street
Shake
To get away from (a pursuer)
Couldn't shake the man who was following us.
Wobble
Move sideways or in an unsteady way;
The ship careened out of control
Shake
To bring to a specified condition by or as if by shaking
"It is not easy to shake one's heart free of the impression" (John Middleton Murry).
Wobble
Tremble or shake;
His voice wobbled with restrained emotion
Shake
To clasp (hands) in greeting or leave-taking or as a sign of agreement.
Shake
(Music) To trill (a note).
Shake
(Games) To rattle and mix (dice) before casting.
Shake
To move from side to side or up and down in short, irregular, often jerky movements
The trees shook in the wind.
Shake
To move something vigorously up and down or from side to side, as in mixing.
Shake
To tremble, as from cold or in anger.
Shake
To be unsteady; totter or waver.
Shake
(Music) To trill.
Shake
To shake hands
Let's shake on it.
Shake
The act of shaking
Gave the bottle a shake.
Shake
A trembling or quivering movement.
Shake
(Informal) An earthquake.
Shake
A fissure in rock.
Shake
A crack in timber caused by wind or frost.
Shake
(Informal) A moment or instant
I'll do it in a shake.
Shake
(Music) A trill.
Shake
See milkshake.
Shake
A beverage in which the ingredients are mixed by shaking.
Shake
A rough shingle used to cover rustic buildings, such as barns
Cedar shakes.
Shake
Shakes(Informal) Uncontrollable trembling, as in a person who is cold, frightened, feverish, or ill. Often used with the
Was suffering from a bad case of the shakes.
Shake
(Informal) A bargain or deal
Getting a fair shake.
Shake
To cause (something) to move rapidly in opposite directions alternatingly.
The earthquake shook the building.
He shook the can of soda for thirty seconds before delivering it to me, so that, when I popped it open, soda went everywhere.
Shake
(transitive) To move (one's head) from side to side, especially to indicate refusal, reluctance, or disapproval.
Shaking his head, he kept repeating “No, no, no”.
Shake
(transitive) To move or remove by agitating; to throw off by a jolting or vibrating motion.
To shake fruit down from a tree
Shake
(transitive) To disturb emotionally; to shock.
Her father’s death shook her terribly.
He was shaken by what had happened.
Shake
(transitive) To lose, evade, or get rid of (something).
I can’t shake the feeling that I forgot something.
Shake
(intransitive) To move from side to side.
She shook with grief.
Shake
To shake hands.
OK, let’s shake on it.
Shake
(intransitive) To dance.
She was shaking it on the dance floor.
Shake
To give a tremulous tone to; to trill.
To shake a note in music
Shake
To threaten to overthrow.
The experience shook my religious belief.
Shake
To be agitated; to lose firmness.
Shake
The act of shaking or being shaken; tremulous or back-and-forth motion.
The cat gave the mouse a shake.
She replied in the negative, with a shake of her head.
Shake
A twitch, a spasm, a tremor.
Shake
A milkshake.
Shake
A beverage made by adding ice cream to a (usually carbonated) drink; a float.
Shake
Shake cannabis, small, leafy fragments of cannabis that gather at the bottom of a bag of marijuana.
Shake
An adulterant added to cocaine powder.
Shake
(building material) A thin shingle.
Shake
A crack or split between the growth rings in wood.
Shake
A fissure in rock or earth.
Shake
A basic wooden shingle made from split logs, traditionally used for roofing etc.
Shake
(informal) Instant, second. (Especially in two shakes.)
Shake
(nautical) One of the staves of a hogshead or barrel taken apart.
Shake
(music) A rapid alternation of a principal tone with another represented on the next degree of the staff above or below it; a trill.
Shake
(music) In singing, notes (usually high ones) sung vibrato.
Shake
A shook of staves and headings.
Shake
The redshank, so called from the nodding of its head while on the ground.
Shake
A shock or disturbance.
Shake
To cause to move with quick or violent vibrations; to move rapidly one way and the other; to make to tremble or shiver; to agitate.
As a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
Ascend my chariot; guide the rapid wheelsThat shake heaven's basis.
Shake
Fig.: To move from firmness; to weaken the stability of; to cause to waver; to impair the resolution of.
When his doctrines grew too strong to be shook by his enemies, they persecuted his reputation.
Thy equal fear that my firm faith and loveCan by his fraud be shaken or seduced.
Shake
To give a tremulous tone to; to trill; as, to shake a note in music.
Shake
To move or remove by agitating; to throw off by a jolting or vibrating motion; to rid one's self of; - generally with an adverb, as off, out, etc.; as, to shake fruit down from a tree.
Shake off the golden slumber of repose.
'Tis our fast intentTo shake all cares and business from our age.
I could scarcely shake him out of my company.
Shake
To be agitated with a waving or vibratory motion; to tremble; to shiver; to quake; to totter.
Under his burning wheelsThe steadfast empyrean shook throughout,All but the throne itself of God.
What danger? Who 's that that shakes behind there?
Shake
The act or result of shaking; a vacillating or wavering motion; a rapid motion one way and other; a trembling, quaking, or shivering; agitation.
The great soldier's honor was composedOf thicker stuff, which could endure a shake.
Our salutations were very hearty on both sides, consisting of many kind shakes of the hand.
Shake
A fissure or crack in timber, caused by its being dried too suddenly.
Shake
A fissure in rock or earth.
Shake
A rapid alternation of a principal tone with another represented on the next degree of the staff above or below it; a trill.
Shake
One of the staves of a hogshead or barrel taken apart.
Shake
A shook of staves and headings.
Shake
The redshank; - so called from the nodding of its head while on the ground.
Shake
Building material used as siding or roofing
Shake
Frothy drink of milk and flavoring and sometimes fruit or ice cream
Shake
A note that alternates rapidly with another note a semitone above it
Shake
Grasping and shaking a person's hand (as to acknowledge an introduction or to agree on a contract)
Shake
Reflex shaking caused by cold or fear or excitement
Shake
Causing to move repeatedly from side to side
Shake
Move or cause to move back and forth;
The chemist shook the flask vigorously
My hands were shaking
Shake
Move with or as if with a tremor;
His hands shook
Shake
Shake or vibrate rapidly and intensively;
The old engine was juddering
Shake
Move back and forth or sideways;
The ship was rocking
The tall building swayed
She rocked back and forth on her feet
Shake
Undermine or cause to waver;
My faith has been shaken
The bad news shook her hopes
Shake
Stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of;
These stories shook the community
The civil war shook the country
Shake
Get rid of;
I couldn't shake the car that was following me
Shake
Bring to a specified condition by or as if by shaking;
He was shaken from his dreams
Shake the salt out of the salt shaker
Shake
Shake (a body part) to communicate a greeting, feeling, or cognitive state;
Shake one's head
She shook her finger at the naughty students
The old enemies shook hands
Don't shake your fist at me!
Common Curiosities
Is shaking always intentional?
While shaking is often intentional, it can also be involuntary, such as shaking from cold or fear.
What does it mean to shake something?
Shaking something means moving it back and forth or up and down rapidly and forcefully, often to mix, remove something, or signal something.
What is a wobble?
A wobble is an unsteady movement from side to side, often indicating instability or imbalance.
Can humans wobble?
Yes, humans can wobble, especially when they stand, walk, or balance on an unstable surface or when feeling physically weak.
Why do objects wobble?
Objects wobble due to unevenness or instability in their base or structure, making them tilt or sway unsteadily.
How can I stop something from wobbling?
Stabilizing the base, adding support, or evenly distributing weight can help stop something from wobbling.
Do all liquids need to be shaken before use?
Not all, but shaking can help mix or recombine ingredients that have separated in liquids like sauces, dressings, or medicinal solutions.
Is wobbling a sign of poor quality?
Not necessarily, but it can indicate a need for adjustment, repair, or reinforcement to achieve stability.
Can shaking be harmful?
Yes, excessive or violent shaking, especially of delicate objects or living beings, can be harmful or damaging.
What's the difference between shaking and vibrating?
Vibrating involves rapid, often minute movements at a high frequency, while shaking is generally more forceful and less frequent.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
