1. A sudden and severe measure or punishment utilized to produce a quick and effective result. It is clear now that the policy of punishing young offenders with a short, sharp shock is much less effective than education and emotional training. The financial bailout was meant to be a short, sharp shock to the economy, but the country's sluggish recovery has meant it's been in place for far longer than intended.

2. An experience that is brief but intense. Our latest recipe gives a short, sharp shock of flavor that dissipates into a more mellow, long-lasting taste.

1. dated Intense psychological damage or strain occurring as the result of prolonged combat engagement in warfare, resulting in myriad negative side effects such as nightmares, anxiety, emotional detachment, anger, and so on. The term was popularized during the First World War in reference to soldiers returning from combat; it is known in modern times as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and has expanded to cover the psychological damage caused by any kind of traumatic event. My brother came home with such terrible shell shock that I could no longer even converse with him as I had in the past. When you come back home with PTSD that doesn't line up with what they think shell shock ought to look like, it makes it hard for them to sympathize with you.

2. By extension, a state of utter disbelief, confusion, grief, or shock caused by a powerful and upsetting event. The family has been dealing with shell shock after finding out their father had gambled away their life savings. The fans seemed to be stricken with shell shock after their team—heavily favored to win the championship—were robbed of victory in the final seconds of the game.

1. In a state of intense psychological strain, distress, or trauma as a result of prolonged engagement in combat warfare. The term was popularized during the First World War in reference to soldiers returning from combat; it is more commonly known in modern times as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and has expanded to cover the psychological damage caused by any kind of traumatic event. My brother was lucky enough to come home from the war alive, but he was shell-shocked for the rest of his life. You come back from war a little bit more cynical, a little less inclined to smile, and everyone immediately thinks you're shell-shocked.

2. In a state of utter disbelief, confusion, grief, or shock caused by a powerful and upsetting event. The family has been dealing with shell shock after finding out their father had gambled away their life savings. The fans seemed to be stricken with shell shock after their team—heavily favored to win the championship—were robbed of victory in the final seconds of the game.