tremulous

adjective

trem·​u·​lous ˈtrem-yə-ləs How to pronounce tremulous (audio)
1
: characterized by or affected with trembling or tremors
2
: affected with timidity : timorous
3
: such as is or might be caused by nervousness or shakiness
a tremulous smile
4
: exceedingly sensitive : easily shaken or disordered
tremulously adverb
tremulousness noun

Did you know?

Are you shaky on the meaning of tremulous?

Do you suspect that tremulous must be closely related to tremble? If so, you're right. Both of those words derive from the Latin verb tremere, which means "to tremble." Some other English offspring of tremere are tremor, tremendous, temblor (another word for earthquake), and tremolo (a term that describes a vibrating and quavering musical effect that was particularly popular for electric guitars and organs in the 1970s).

Examples of tremulous in a Sentence

She opened the letter with tremulous hands. He spoke with a tremulous voice.
Recent Examples on the Web Yet Zendaya, an actor of tremulous, often wordless nuance, also shows us the mounting alarm behind Chani’s skepticism. Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2024 As bells and chanting reached a crescendo, amid clouds of incense, a woman in a black-and-copper deel, her schoolteacher’s face tremulous with ardor, came rushing in. Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023 Simon, who does her own cinematography, continually displays a tremulous attentiveness to the everyday dramas experienced by those who must entrust their bodies to the expertise of strangers. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2023 Anohni’s voice is tremulous and pained, which matches the shadowy flickering guitar supporting her. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 5 July 2023 Iron Horse open it with a tremulous, upbeat banjo line, slowly expanding the backdrop while singer-guitarist Vance Henry delivers the lyrics more clearly and coherently than ol’ OedVed ever attempted. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 12 May 2023 Nina Turner had just belted out a short address to God’s Tabernacle of Faith Church in the cadences and tremulous volumes of a preacher when the Rev. Timothy Eppinger called on the whole congregation to lay hands on the woman seeking the House seat of greater Cleveland. New York Times, 20 July 2021 From the upper branches of the cottonwood trees overhead — whose shimmering, tremulous leaves are hardly ever quiet, but if the wind stirs at all, rustle and quiver all day long — comes now and then the soft melancholy cooing of the mourning dove, whose voice always seems far away. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 26 Apr. 2014 The show, which is based on the romance novels by Julia Quinn and produced by Shonda Rhimes, seduces with its tremulous sighs, feigned swoons, and montages of scenes between the sheets. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tremulous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin tremulus — more at tremble

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tremulous was in 1611

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near tremulous

Cite this Entry

“Tremulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tremulous. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tremulous

adjective
trem·​u·​lous ˈtrem-yə-ləs How to pronounce tremulous (audio)
1
: marked by or affected with trembling or tremors
tremulous hands
2
: fearful sense 2, timid
a shy tremulous person
3
: caused by or displaying nervousness or shakiness
a tremulous smile

Medical Definition

tremulous

adjective
trem·​u·​lous ˈtrem-yə-ləs How to pronounce tremulous (audio)
: characterized by or affected with trembling or tremors
tremulousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on tremulous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!