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
as in resonant
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of quavering
Lizz Schumer, People.com, 17 June 2025
Emma called me, her voice quavering, while more calls rolled in.
—Matt Wolf, Vulture, 28 May 2025
And since Joan herself, with that quavering soprano, is a fierce customer, famous in her own right, she’s done with being treated like Dylan’s accessory.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Dec. 2024
The reflections of the icebergs quavered in the water, which was blue to the edge of purple.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
Odysseus asks, his voice quavering, revealing his insecurity upon returning home after a 20-year absence.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Sep. 2024
And so a Vivaldi aria erupts on the soundtrack, and before long Jon opens his mouth and begins to sing, in a lovely, quavering falsetto.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 27 June 2024
Johnson read from the Book of James, 2:14, her voice quavering a bit before the crowd.
—Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2023
Her voice quavered recalling women who killed themselves after G.I.s who had taken them as common-law wives subsequently abandoned them and their children.
—Choe Sang-Hun Jean Chung, New York Times, 2 May 2023
Verb
That quavering in his 13-year-old daughter’s voice pierces his heart.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 17 June 2025
Emma called me, her voice quavering, while more calls rolled in.
—Matt Wolf, Vulture, 28 May 2025
And since Joan herself, with that quavering soprano, is a fierce customer, famous in her own right, she’s done with being treated like Dylan’s accessory.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Dec. 2024
The reflections of the icebergs quavered in the water, which was blue to the edge of purple.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
Odysseus asks, his voice quavering, revealing his insecurity upon returning home after a 20-year absence.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Sep. 2024
And so a Vivaldi aria erupts on the soundtrack, and before long Jon opens his mouth and begins to sing, in a lovely, quavering falsetto.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 27 June 2024
Johnson read from the Book of James, 2:14, her voice quavering a bit before the crowd.
—Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2023
Her voice quavered recalling women who killed themselves after G.I.s who had taken them as common-law wives subsequently abandoned them and their children.
—Choe Sang-Hun Jean Chung, New York Times, 2 May 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quavering
Adjective
-
Those with an instinct for what feels inevitable, resonant and viral will lead—before the first line of code is written.—
Jehan Hamedi,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
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And Gayles does a great job of leading up to each video with resonant quotes from JJ’88’s support system: his mother Janine, father William, stepmother Jackie, sister Reneasha, and wife Indigo.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Ditto the auxiliary singers, particularly Greene, who paired a deep, sonorous bass range with enthusiastic dance moves that underlined the across-the-board camaraderie.—
Bob Gendron,
Chicago Tribune,
20 July 2025
-
On Pressing Onward, Freedia is creating her own religious experience of sorts — one that marries the powerful peaks and sonorous valleys of gospel with the irrepressible, relentless energy of bounce.—
Joe Lynch,
Billboard,
23 June 2025
Adjective
-
This time, the message is accompanied by a one-minute countdown clock and the dulcet sounds of Frank Sinatra’s vocals.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
18 Feb. 2025
-
Audio-Technica There's a mode to improve voice clarity while taking calls, with AI noise reduction on tap to focus on the speaker's dulcet tones.—
Paul Ridden,
New Atlas,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
There has been less research into the link between the stomach’s inherent rhythmic activity and mental well-being.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
17 Aug. 2025
-
Kind of like the Olympics’ team rhythmic gymnastics but with better throwing and balancing stunts.—
Bay Area News Group,
Mercury News,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The work to make merchandise more appealing will continue, Fiddelke said Wednesday.—
Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
20 Aug. 2025
-
For many, simply sitting on the couch at home with a dog by their side remains more appealing than slipping into VR.—
Mack DeGeurin Aug 20,
Popular Science,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Quavering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quavering. Accessed 25 Aug. 2025.
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