quavering 1 of 2

adjective

as in resonant

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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
Tiny Silver was a birdlike woman, either very young or very old, quavering. — Literary Hub, 13 July 2026 Softly so as not to drown out the quavering notes, the congregation put words to the melody. — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 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
  1. resonant
  2. trilling
  3. sonorous
  4. warbling
  5. melodic
  6. dulcet
  7. rhythmic
  8. appealing
Adjective
  • Material defects caused the circuit’s resonant frequency to hop back and forth between two distinct states.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The appointment marks the latest chapter in the evolution of a brand that emerged as one of the most culturally resonant London labels of the 2010s.
    — Luke Leitch, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of resonant
Verb
  • The chihuahuan raven has a somewhat different vocalization, with more of a trilling quality to its croak.
    — Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 31 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of trilling
Adjective
  • Dub’s classic elements are present in the bass and drum groove, the offbeat accents and the play of echo, but McDoom balances them carefully against her sonorous voice.
    — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Beat writing—its jumpy jazz rhythms light and alliterative, so unlike Faulkner’s sonorous throat clearings—did not jive with McCarthy’s other influences.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of sonorous
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
Definition of warbling
Adjective
  • That decision paid off, as the gorgeous album marries thoughtful and melodic production with deeply personal storytelling about the member’s families and upbringings.
    — Katie Bain, Billboard, 6 Nov. 2026
  • With delirious melodic instincts, the Bronx rapper’s new tape evokes Young Money-era swag on a SoundCloud budget.
    — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of melodic
Adjective
  • Their voice is gone, longtime public address announcer Lawrence Tanter dying last month at age 76 after more than four decades of dulcet downtown tones.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of dulcet
Adjective
  • The machines flashed with bright lights and played rhythmic sounds.
    — New Yorker, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026
  • One of the naturally occurring patterns of electrical activity in the brain is rhythmic neural firing at a frequency of 40 hertz, referred to as the gamma frequency.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of rhythmic
Adjective
  • The Max2 is an appealing option for content creators who want to take advantage of the creative possibilities of a 360-degree video camera, as well as surfers, snowboarders, motorcyclists, and others who want to get the whole world in the shot.
    — Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 7 Nov. 2026
  • But what makes this jewelry trend especially appealing is the opportunity to make it entirely your own.
    — Madeline Fass, Vogue, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of appealing

Browse Nearby Words

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quavering
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Cite this Entry

“Quavering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quavering. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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