shudder

1 of 2

verb

shud·​der ˈshə-dər 

shuddered; shuddering ˈshə-d(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

: to tremble convulsively : shiver, quiver

shudder

2 of 2

noun

: an act of shuddering

shuddery

ˈshə-d(ə-)rē 

adjective

Synonyms of shudder

Verb

• shake
• jerk
• tremble
• shiver
• quiver
• vibrate

Noun

• shiver
• tremble

Examples of shudder in a Sentence

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

Verb

McDonald’s shares fell nearly 5% Wednesday, their largest percentage drop since April 2025, as investors shuddered at the eye-popping price of improving McDonald’s 46,000 global stores. — Dee-Ann Durbin, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

The walls of my office violently shuddered and smoke filled the hallway — but no evacuation alarm ever sounded. — Marc A. Thiessen, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2026

Noun

In November 2015, firefighters were using a REACH Eurocopter for training to simulate patient loading and unloading at the Apple Valley airport when the pilot felt a shudder and immediately landed. — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Moreno says as the chopper shudders, causing the camera to shake. — David Chiu, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English shoddren; akin to Old High German skutten to shake and perhaps to Lithuanian kutėti to shake up

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1607, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing shudder

• shudder to think (of)

Rhymes for shudder

• kadir
• prader
• rudder
• scudder
• udder

Kids Definition

shudder

1 of 2 verb

shud·​der ˈshəd-ər 

shuddered; shuddering -(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to tremble with fear or horror or from cold

shuddered just thinking about it

2

: shake entry 1 sense 1, quiver

the train slowed and shuddered to a halt

shudder

2 of 2 noun

: an act of shuddering : shiver

shuddery

-(ə-)rē 

adjective

Medical Definition

shudder

intransitive verb

shud·​der ˈshəd-ər 

shuddered; shuddering

: to tremble convulsively : shiver

shudder noun