Verb
The old car shuddered to a halt.
The house shuddered as a plane flew overhead. Noun
a shudder ran through him as he stepped outside into the snow
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Nothing much really happens in this movie after Philip’s initial arrest, but the world viscerally shudders under Lucy’s feet every time one of her husband’s alibis falls apart.—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 15 May 2026 That brewery is taking over Headflyer's space after closing its own Nordeast taproom in 2023, then shuddering entirely last year before rising from the ashes months later.—Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Noun
Some advancements have sent shudders through Hollywood.—ABC News, 18 May 2026 In early April, Anthropic sent shudders through the tech community with Claude’s Mythos Preview model.—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for shudder
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English shoddren; akin to Old High German skutten to shake and perhaps to Lithuanian kutėti to shake up