as in shaking
marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements
found the quaking stray dog wandering outside in the rain
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in shuddering
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements
the horror film was so scary it left us quaking with fear for hours afterwards
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of quaking
Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026
The jiggly, quaking contraption is eye-catching—a natural social media star.
—Julia Sullivan, Outside, 23 Dec. 2025
The majority of the action, however, unfolds in a claustrophobic one-shot inside a tent, with our heroes quaking at the whoops and cries surrounding them.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
The agitated, ominous vibration of giant power lines and quaking transmission towers feels like a Greek chorus throughout Paul Greengrass’s intense new wildfire thriller, The Lost Bus.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
For those communities quaking in terror, simply waiting three years for a new president is not sufficient.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026
The jiggly, quaking contraption is eye-catching—a natural social media star.
—Julia Sullivan, Outside, 23 Dec. 2025
The majority of the action, however, unfolds in a claustrophobic one-shot inside a tent, with our heroes quaking at the whoops and cries surrounding them.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
The agitated, ominous vibration of giant power lines and quaking transmission towers feels like a Greek chorus throughout Paul Greengrass’s intense new wildfire thriller, The Lost Bus.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quaking
Noun
-
Its strength ranges from mild, causing little more discomfort than a slight trembling, to severe, in which passengers or flight crew can be thrown around the cabin and risk injury if not wearing seatbelts.—
Cat Rainsford,
Popular Science,
15 Jan. 2026
-
There’s Walter’s serene cello and Marjorie’s pensive, slightly coy violin, sometimes playful or petulant or, still, a little vain and secretive — other times thin and trembling, lost in the haze of dementia.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Structure information summary Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are highly resistant to earthquake shaking, though some vulnerable structures exist.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
While Bryant was able to come from behind, the Lady Hornets had a hard time shaking off the Lady Warriors.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The old dog slowed to a stop, nose full of bird stink, feathery tail quivering.—
Joel M. Vance,
Outdoor Life,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Most of the camp was enclosed with an electrified fence, to keep out the Big Men, the massive, shuddering ursids that could not be named (more on that later).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Dec. 2025
-
With haunted vocal multitracking and big, shuddering beats, the album builds to a climax in which hope and fear are swept into the same rush of human experience.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
12 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
That week’s host, Emily Blunt, did the trembly voice-over.—
Michael Schulman,
The New Yorker,
21 Dec. 2020
Noun
-
In the first stills that have been released, Pfeiffer is seen sitting in a wooden rocking chair on a porch.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Expect leather benches, custom drapery, rattan rocking chairs, and oversize armoires that discreetly conceal the tile-and-marble bathrooms with soaking tubs and bamboo shades.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The tear-jerking dramedy featured a breakthrough role for Emilia Jones, an Oscar-winning, scene-stealing turn by Troy Kotsur and a thoughtful narrative that took audiences into the personal lives of a deaf family with a single hearing member.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
22 Jan. 2026
-
That jerking motion, combined with detergent and water, loosens dirt from the surfaces of clothing.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Symptoms are fatigue, confusion, disorientation, excessive shivering and loss of coordination.—
Brayden Garcia
January 21,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Once moderate hypothermia sets in, the opposite effect happens — heart rate, breathing and shivering will slow and eventually stop.—
Karl Hille,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Quaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quaking. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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