as in shiver
an instance of shaking involuntarily with fear or cold
a shudder ran through him as he stepped outside into the snow
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to shake
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements
huddled in the basement, we shuddered with fear as we heard the approaching tornado
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shudder
Ayşegül Savaş, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2025
Over Martin’s delicate playing, her aching rasp resonated to the rafters, a melancholy shudder that still sounded comforting.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025
Shelby Wax, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2025
Most residents in the beachfront luxury condominium at Surfside were asleep in their beds when their 12-story residential building shuddered and then collapsed, pinning sleeping residents between the heavy concrete slabs of each floor.
—Bruce Strom, Sun Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shudder
Noun
Amina felt a shudder of annoyance at the bluntness of the comment, and also at its blindness—that signs of her transformation should be guessed at from her appearance.
—Ayşegül Savaş, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2025
Over Martin’s delicate playing, her aching rasp resonated to the rafters, a melancholy shudder that still sounded comforting.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025
Verb
Brides-to-be who lived through the early aughts may understandably shudder at the thought.
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2025
Most residents in the beachfront luxury condominium at Surfside were asleep in their beds when their 12-story residential building shuddered and then collapsed, pinning sleeping residents between the heavy concrete slabs of each floor.
—Bruce Strom, Sun Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shudder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shudder
Noun
-
The females’ eggs, fertilized by the males’ shivers, will hatch over the next few months.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Feb. 2025
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Merely the thought of any potential Chinese aggression in Taiwan sends shivers down the spines of industry, market, and government officials, and an outright attack would put the worldwide economy in a tailspin.—
Karl Freund,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 10 contestant Phoenix's drama with Ice Spice must've stirred too much after the season 3 queen clapped back against the guest judge's Main Stage critiques about her icon status, but the Drag Race OG hopes the rapper isn't too shaken in the aftermath.—
Joey Nolfi Published,
EW.com,
17 May 2025
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When Unique told Raq that Kanan came to him asking to team up, that shook her.—
Julia Moore,
People.com,
16 May 2025
Noun
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Valeria leaves guard duties to Ellen, a grandmother with a constant tremble in her hands from her MS.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2024
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Kaleena knew her fate before it was announced, teary-eyed and emotional as Kish, with a tremble in her voice, asked her and Alisha to pack their knives and go.—
Rachel Bernhard,
Journal Sentinel,
10 Apr. 2024
Verb
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Earthquakes cause the ground to move in unpredictable ways, sometimes sharply jerking, other times swaying like a ship in rough seas.—
Maya Wei-Haas,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
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Confused Lochlan, who thoughtfully jerked off his older brother so that Saxon wouldn’t feel left out.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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There’s quivering and shoving, growling and purring.—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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The journalist raised her hand, and her voice quivered in seeming alarm as the 6.2-magnitude quake shook Istanbul shortly before 1 p.m. local time on Wednesday, April 23.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
People.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The extraordinary source material is a profound inspiration to build a unique world that vibrates with life and death at the same time.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
16 May 2025
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Many ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers—humidifiers that vibrate to make mist—can lower water mineralization and bacterial growth.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
11 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shudder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shudder. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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