揺るがす

• Reading: ゆるがす
• Romaji: yurugasu
• Kanji breakdown: 揺 (yō/yuru) — to shake, to rock, to sway
• Pronunciation: /jɯ.ɾɯ.ɡa.sɯ/

Meaning

To shake; to undermine; to rock the foundations of something. Typically used for abstract structures such as authority, trust, or society.

A Group 1 (godan) causative-like verb derived from 揺るぐ (to waver, to be shaken). While 揺るぐ describes the state of being shaken, 揺るがす is transitive — someone or something actively destabilises a structure. Commonly appears in formal writing and journalism.

Examples

1. そのスキャンダルは政府の基盤を揺るがす大事件となった。 That scandal became a major incident that shook the very foundations of the government.
2. 彼の確信を揺るがすような事実が次々と明らかになった。 Facts that undermined his conviction came to light one after another.
3. 大地震が街全体を揺るがし、多くの建物が倒壊した。 A massive earthquake rocked the entire city, causing many buildings to collapse.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, journalism, disasters, social criticism, history

Tone: serious

Origin & History

Causative extension of 揺るぐ (to waver), with the kanji 揺 (to shake) at its core. The -がす suffix is an older causative form, parallel to 動かす from 動く. It appears in classical literature and remains common in formal registers.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated