quavering 1 of 2

quavering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of quaver
as in trilling
to sing with the alternation of two musical tones know-it-alls snickered as the opera singer quavered on the high note

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of quavering
Adjective
Unmoored from tradition and offering only vague, impressionistic lyrics, Granli’s quavering performances on Rosacea become Rorschach tests, ripe for free association with whatever images your psyche can dredge up. H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
The governor, Tim Walz, defeated for the Vice Presidency, gets on TV, his voice quavering, saying the right things, speaking the truth, and advising courage. Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026 The combination of quavering flutes and solemn, unfamiliar corridors is disquieting. Hazlitt, 10 Dec. 2025 Funke, her voice quavering throughout, recounted the events of the previous night. Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2025 Her voice quavering with emotion, Pawol talked about getting the news during a Wednesday conference call with director of umpire development Rich Rieker and vice president of umpire operations Matt McKendry. Ronald Blum, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quavering
Adjective
  • And to bring this material, a lot of it which is sadly still resonant and relevant, but to bring it to new audiences.
    Carita Rizzo, Deadline, 15 June 2026
  • The hallmarks of the Navy Blue sound are present—barely-there snares keeping time in the distance, string samples melting into reflective puddles, overtones from resonant piano lines.
    Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 10 June 2026
Verb
  • Rock Harbor to Daisy Farm Campground This trail almost entirely follows the coast for 7 miles, with a soundtrack of lapping waves, trilling loons, and the occasional outboard motor.
    Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 7 June 2026
  • In a now-viral clip, Carpenter overheard someone from the crowd trilling during her set for Weekend 1 and asked if the audience member was yodeling.
    Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The pacing is erratic and the sonorous voice-over narration doesn’t help either.
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 13 May 2026
  • Metals are particularly sonorous, as anyone who has been around toddlers (and pots and pans) can testify.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 May 2026
Adjective
  • Nine’s creaking, warbling cadence makes for a Thug/Carti hybrid that’s distinct but still close enough to be familiar and palatable.
    Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 16 Apr. 2026
  • The song may be six minutes long, but the circuitous lope of his acoustic-guitar strum and low throb of his warbling feel eternal, like the type of tune Sisyphus might have hummed to keep himself company.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Adjective
  • The saxophonist is a musical shapeshifter who lends his talents far and wide, but his dreamiest, most conventionally melodic music usually arises from his long-running collaboration with vocalist Nicholas Krgovich.
    Zach Schonfeld, Pitchfork, 18 June 2026
  • The music from the Los Angeles alternative/space-rock trio remains cinematic, deeply melodic, contemplative, and filled with darkness.
    Steve Appleford, SPIN, 16 June 2026
Adjective
  • The enchanting woodsy and pastoral backgrounds when the action moves from the residential suburbs to the rural outskirts add to that poignancy, as do the dulcet tones of Randy Newman’s score.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026
  • Wishing you a week of dulcet tones, giddy resistance, and a thousand pancakes.
    Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Some fans brought in drums and played ‘em in the far reaches of the upper decks, with the rhythmic sound never stopping while the ball was on the pitch.
    David Close, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
  • Treatonomics What the data increasingly shows is a far more deliberate, rhythmic pattern of consumption, particularly among younger consumers.
    Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Adjective
  • The idea of waking up beside a beach or beneath a mountain is understandably appealing, but visitors should be careful not to confuse freedom with entitlement.
    David Nikel, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
  • Interior designers highlight common mistakes that can make a living room appear less appealing.
    Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 20 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Quavering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quavering. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.

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