One way to hold this word: something violent happens in one spot, and the force of it does not stay there. A wall of pressure pushes in every direction, faster than anyone can react, and whatever stands in its path gets hit. Windows, walls and ground are hit by the real thing; people and groups are hit by the news version of it.
這個字的畫面可以想成：某個地方突然發生很猛的事，而那股力量不會待在原地。它像一道牆一樣往四面八方推出去，比人反應還快，路上的東西一個接一個被撞到。實體的衝擊波撞的是窗戶、牆和地面；新聞裡的 shock waves 撞的則是人的情緒和整個群體。