as in trembling
marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements
suffered a shaking chill during his bout with the flu
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in twitching
a series of slight movements by a body back and forth or from side to side
gave the bottle of salad dressing a good shaking
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in escape
the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable
condemned the government's shaking of its overseas responsibilities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in jerking
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements
the bus rattled and shook as it barreled down a rutted road
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in avoiding
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery
we shook our pursuers by cutting through the abandoned lot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 shaking
Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2026
Abigail Dollins, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 June 2026
Then, during one family movie night in November 2020, her husband noticed her arm was shaking.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 6 June 2026
Former Mayor Harold Washington appears extensively — including a candid photo of Washington shaking hands with constituents while a young Obama lingers in the background.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2026
Structure information summary Most structures in this region are resistant to earthquake shaking, though vulnerable structures exist.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026
Here’s a round-up of who’s moving and shaking in the art trade this week.
—Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 3 June 2026
With Arena Monterrey shaking, El Grande II hit a flying clothesline for a nearfall.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
YouTubers in their 20s are shaking things up in Hollywood.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 31 May 2026
If Chartreuse is tasting the essence of the forest from Gaia’s own breast, then Fernet is more like shaking hands with the devil.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 30 May 2026
Noun
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2026
Verb
People gathered near the site to get a front row seat to the ground-shaking event.
—Abigail Dollins, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 June 2026
Then, during one family movie night in November 2020, her husband noticed her arm was shaking.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 6 June 2026
Former Mayor Harold Washington appears extensively — including a candid photo of Washington shaking hands with constituents while a young Obama lingers in the background.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2026
Structure information summary Most structures in this region are resistant to earthquake shaking, though vulnerable structures exist.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026
Here’s a round-up of who’s moving and shaking in the art trade this week.
—Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 3 June 2026
With Arena Monterrey shaking, El Grande II hit a flying clothesline for a nearfall.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
YouTubers in their 20s are shaking things up in Hollywood.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 31 May 2026
If Chartreuse is tasting the essence of the forest from Gaia’s own breast, then Fernet is more like shaking hands with the devil.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 30 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaking
Adjective
-
That week’s host, Emily Blunt, did the trembly voice-over.—
Michael Schulman,
The New Yorker,
21 Dec. 2020
Noun
-
All the trembling, as Kimbangu touched the sick, alarmed European settlers and reassured the plantation workers who trekked to Nkamba in search of healing.—
Rodney Muhumuza,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
At first this change of scale vivifies the butterfly—its brief stillness, the angle of its wings, its trembling—while freezing everything else, including the novel’s action.—
Ben Lerner,
The New York Review of Books,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Additional amenities include a spa, fitness center, kids’ club, and flexible event spaces, making the resort an ideal destination for a stylish and immersive island escape.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
-
Picard approached an elderly couple who rented the place as an escape from the summer heat of the French capital and asked if the 552nd could use the land.—
Kevin Maurer,
The Atlantic,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Physical tics can be as subtle as eye blinking, or involve jerking the arms, or stretching the neck.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
-
Avoid jerking the floss or aggressive movements; instead, use smooth, gentle motions.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
The drone filmed from the north and south ends of the channel and shot an FWC boat travelling around the same speed that Pino’s Robalo was going on the day of the crash and the same path before avoiding the piling at the last second.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
-
As a result, there has been growing interest in treatments that can deliver powerful cancer medicines more precisely while avoiding some of the limitations of traditional chemotherapy.—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
The forward scored nine points on 4-for-4 shooting in the third quarter, kept the Knicks organized when their ballhandling got shaky and helped rebuild the lead to nine entering the fourth.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
6 June 2026
-
While the heaviest fighting has subsided, the shaky ceasefire has seen almost daily Israeli fire.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Casting near banks and using a twitching technique can increase success during the hatch.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
14 May 2026
-
During this phase, octopuses display visible twitching along with rapid changes in skin color and texture, per NPR.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Andrew Bash allowed a run in an inning of relief of Gallagher and Alejandro Hidalgo gave up four runs while getting just two outs.—
Pioneer Press,
Twin Cities,
10 June 2026
-
Backup catcher Sebastián Rivero sparked the Angels’ second-inning rally with a one-out single.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaking. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
