Synonyms of quiver

quiver 1 of 5

noun (1)

as in shiver

an instance of shaking involuntarily with fear or cold

a quiver ran through the audience when the monster cornered the movie's hero

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shiver
• shudder
• tremble
• tremor
• wave
• jolt
• wobble
• quake
• flutter
• shake
• agitation
• throb
• pulse
• vibration
• fluctuation
• oscillation
• pulsation
• palpitation
• convulsing
• beat

quiver

2 of 5

verb (1)

as in to shake

to make a series of small irregular or violent movements

aspen leaves quivering in the breeze

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shake
• shudder
• jerk
• tremble
• vibrate
• shiver
• twitch
• wobble
• quake
• bucket
• convulse
• jiggle
• sway
• jolt
• agitate
• throb
• swing
• jounce
• flicker
• flutter
• wave
• joggle
• judder
• rock
• chatter
• thrill
• quaver
• waver
• palpitate
• undulate
• fluctuate
• pulse
• pulsate
• oscillate
• dodder
• pit-a-pat
• beat
• pitter-patter

quivering

3 of 5

adjective

as in trembling

marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements

our quivering dog tried to hide under the bed during the thunderstorm

Synonyms & Similar Words

• trembling
• shaking
• trembly
• shuddering
• shivering
• shaky
• quaking
• tremulous
• atremble
• wobbly
• quavery
• wobbling
• tottering
• shuddery
• tottery
• aquiver
• unsteady
• throbbing
• convulsive
• shivery
• palpitating
• wavering
• pulsating
• rocky
• unstable
• wavery
• staggery

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stable
• steady
• controlled
• firm
• settled

quivering

4 of 5

noun (2)

as in twitching

a series of slight movements by a body back and forth or from side to side

the kids were fascinated by the quivering of the jellyfish and kept poking it to see it wiggle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• trembling
• twitching
• shaking
• vibration
• shivering
• shuddering
• tremor
• quaking
• oscillation
• tremble
• jiggling
• twitch
• shake
• quiver
• rocking
• shudder
• shiver
• palpitation
• juddering
• jiggle

quivering

5 of 5

verb (2)

present participle of quiver

as in shaking

to make a series of small irregular or violent movements

aspen leaves quivering in the breeze

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shaking
• shuddering
• jerking
• trembling
• vibrating
• shivering
• quaking
• twitching
• convulsing
• wobbling
• swaying
• jiggling
• jolting
• jouncing
• agitating
• throbbing
• juddering
• flickering
• swinging
• fluttering
• waving
• quavering
• rocking
• joggling
• bucketing
• chattering
• thrilling
• wavering
• palpitating
• fluctuating
• pulsing
• oscillating
• undulating
• pulsating
• doddering
• pitter-pattering
• beating
• pit-a-patting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of quiver

Noun

Until 2023’s The Celebration Tour, the singer most often used concerts to play new material, only occasionally reaching into her quiver of hits to please crowds. — David Harris, SPIN, 13 July 2026

Not like my boyfriend’s family’s doorbell, with its complicated, seven-tone church melody that gives you spiritual chills and causes you to quiver excitedly. — Literary Hub, 8 June 2026

Verb

Each time, brown leaves that had drifted from distant trees quivered and spun on the surface. — Literary Hub, 11 June 2026

Her papers quivered in her hand. — Tanya Babbar, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 June 2026

Noun

A-fib is a quivering or irregular heartbeat that is a worrisome stage-setter for blood clots, stroke and heart failure. — Maria Sherman, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026

The horror has come now like a storm— what if this night prefigured the night after death— what if all thereafter was an eternal quivering on the edge of an abyss, with everything base and vicious in oneself urging one forward and the baseness and viciousness of the world just ahead. — Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026

Verb

Johnston plays poor Bear as a quivering mess wracked with guilt that this monster — who used to be his friend — is the result of his own terrible decision-making. — Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 23 May 2026

Maggie could see how the soles of her feet strained against the stirrups, her pale fists grinding into the platform, knuckles first and elbows quivering. — Literary Hub, 8 May 2026