as in trembling
marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements
suffered a shaking chill during his bout with the flu
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in twitching
a series of slight movements by a body back and forth or from side to side
gave the bottle of salad dressing a good shaking
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in escape
the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable
condemned the government's shaking of its overseas responsibilities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in jerking
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements
the bus rattled and shook as it barreled down a rutted road
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in avoiding
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery
we shook our pursuers by cutting through the abandoned lot
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shaking
Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 2 May 2026
The team also found that certain near-surface features, such as softer rock layers above where the stopping phase happens, can further enhance it, leading to more severe shaking of the ground at the surface.
—Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026
New Atlas, 2 May 2026
Redick said, when going back into the rolodex of his career, that shaking off the rust – as Reaves is doing right now – can have different results depending on the scenario.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 2 May 2026
Abel made a point of stopping by every booth in the hall, greeting employees and shaking hands with shareholders.
—Yun Li,sarah Min, CNBC, 1 May 2026
Structure information summary Most structures in this region are resistant to earthquake shaking, though vulnerable structures exist.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
Whitehead was seen shaking his head in court as the decision was announced.
—Riley Rourke, CBS News, 1 May 2026
That’s not an earth-shaking amount, but higher than the last two years.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2026
The two men were pictured shaking hands and saying their goodbyes as the royal visit wrapped up.
—Staff Author Updated, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
On Thursday night, after shaking off a deal that was short-circuited by another team, the Ravens would make a pick (Penn State guard Vega Ioane) that symbolically spoke to the franchise’s core values.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 2 May 2026
The team also found that certain near-surface features, such as softer rock layers above where the stopping phase happens, can further enhance it, leading to more severe shaking of the ground at the surface.
—Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
This is the kind of car that would be a treat to see stateside – and likely one that will have American automakers shaking in their boots.
—New Atlas, 2 May 2026
Redick said, when going back into the rolodex of his career, that shaking off the rust – as Reaves is doing right now – can have different results depending on the scenario.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 2 May 2026
Abel made a point of stopping by every booth in the hall, greeting employees and shaking hands with shareholders.
—Yun Li,sarah Min, CNBC, 1 May 2026
Structure information summary Most structures in this region are resistant to earthquake shaking, though vulnerable structures exist.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
Whitehead was seen shaking his head in court as the decision was announced.
—Riley Rourke, CBS News, 1 May 2026
That’s not an earth-shaking amount, but higher than the last two years.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2026
The two men were pictured shaking hands and saying their goodbyes as the royal visit wrapped up.
—Staff Author Updated, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
On Thursday night, after shaking off a deal that was short-circuited by another team, the Ravens would make a pick (Penn State guard Vega Ioane) that symbolically spoke to the franchise’s core values.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaking
Noun
-
All the trembling, as Kimbangu touched the sick, alarmed European settlers and reassured the plantation workers who trekked to Nkamba in search of healing.—
Rodney Muhumuza,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
At first this change of scale vivifies the butterfly—its brief stillness, the angle of its wings, its trembling—while freezing everything else, including the novel’s action.—
Ben Lerner,
The New York Review of Books,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But there is a difference between grace and escape — and in the past couple of weeks, three members of Congress chose escape.—
Nick Weston,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 May 2026
-
And Parker, a longtime coast dweller, figured that the night’s high tide offered the whale its best—and possibly only—chance of escape.—
Robin Romm,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Pull the tick out gently, without jerking or ripping.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Tony Fauci was not just jerking the country around.—
David Blumenthal,
Fortune,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Holland's not quite sure why so many in his generation are avoiding alcohol.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
-
Nia has no interest at all in talking to them or even a strategy for avoiding them.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
During this phase, octopuses display visible twitching along with rapid changes in skin color and texture, per NPR.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Gosnell did not testify at his 2013 trial, but his defense attorney argued that none of the fetuses were born alive and that any movements were posthumous twitching or spasms, according to the AP.—
Greg Norman-Diamond,
FOXNews.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Because the Celtics, provided they close-out the 76ers, have the kind of shooters the Hawks don’t.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Batavia trailed 2-1 going into the fifth, but Liam Darre started the rally with a one-out double.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The world itself is shuddering on some of these economic blows.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 May 2026
-
That all came to a shuddering halt after Khashoggi’s death.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Jones faces charges for property theft, money laundering and evading arrest, the release stated.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Poole was arrested by the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office Fugitive Unit on May 31, 2024, after spending months evading law enforcement.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaking. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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