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
Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Weak shaking has been detected and people reported feeling the tremor in multiple cities, including Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach according to the USGS DYFI report.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Though slower, S waves and surface waves cause the most damage due to their intense ground-shaking motion.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
While the Rams were shaking things up this past Sunday and Monday, Wyoming kept pace.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2025
Denegal, shaking off what was termed a stinger, returned for the following series.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
Light shaking has been reported and people reported feeling the tremor in a couple of cities, such as Redway and Garberville, according to the USGS DYFI report.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 26 Oct. 2025
No need to stir, shaking will mix everything just fine.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2025
Among seismic sports television changes during the past 50 years, the NBA’s new media rights deal, one that officially begins this week, isn’t quite as earth-shaking as CBS losing the NFL to Fox in 1994 or ABC losing Monday Night Football in 2005.
—Barry Jackson
updated October 21, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2025
Toss them with seasoning and cook in an air fryer for 15-20 minutes, shaking halfway through.
—Lindsey Desoto, Health, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
Soft soils and certain rock types can amplify seismic waves, intensifying the shaking.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Weak shaking has been detected and people reported feeling the tremor in multiple cities, including Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach according to the USGS DYFI report.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
While shaking hands and chatting with members of the public, one person shouted questions regarding Prince Andrew as the monarch came near.
—Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Though slower, S waves and surface waves cause the most damage due to their intense ground-shaking motion.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
While the Rams were shaking things up this past Sunday and Monday, Wyoming kept pace.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2025
Denegal, shaking off what was termed a stinger, returned for the following series.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
Light shaking has been reported and people reported feeling the tremor in a couple of cities, such as Redway and Garberville, according to the USGS DYFI report.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 26 Oct. 2025
No need to stir, shaking will mix everything just fine.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2025
Among seismic sports television changes during the past 50 years, the NBA’s new media rights deal, one that officially begins this week, isn’t quite as earth-shaking as CBS losing the NFL to Fox in 1994 or ABC losing Monday Night Football in 2005.
—Barry Jackson
updated October 21, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2025
Toss them with seasoning and cook in an air fryer for 15-20 minutes, shaking halfway through.
—Lindsey Desoto, Health, 21 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaking
Noun
-
Lost in the trembling of my own body, trembling like Bunny’s body.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Olsen plays Joan’s indecision with winsome fluster, at first breathy and trembling but eventually finding her resolve.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Their 109-108 escape against the Philadelphia 76ers provided compelling theater, just not to all of the Celtics players.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
1 Nov. 2025
-
Smoke detectors inside the devices sense smoke, which triggers the alarm warning, and its chime can add life-saving minutes to an escape.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
1 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Surprise Lining The most tear-jerking moment, however, was kept secret until the very last minute.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Sounds like the plot of a tear-jerking movie, no?—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Linda Kenney Baden, a legal analyst and defense attorney whose past clients have included Aaron Hernandez, Phil Spector and Casey Anthony, said Robinson's defense may be more focused on avoiding the death penalty than proving his innocence.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The writers mold a peculiar premise in their screenplay by avoiding another dime-a-dozen found footage spectacle, instead turning a very careful eye toward the real-life atrocities committed by the church — plus some genuine scares.—
Michael Lee Simpson,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Patients first experience twitching or weakness in a limb, often followed by slurred speech.—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In addition, many Department of Education employees who were furloughed were surprised to see a message blaming Democrats for the government shutdown inserted into their out-of-office replies.—
The NPR Network,
NPR,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Bregman used that opt-out and is back in free agency this winter.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Andy sighed, shuddering between them.—
Bryan Washington,
New Yorker,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The White House will be well aware of this fact, particularly in an environment where fiscally conservative Republicans will be shuddering at Uncle Sam’s $37 trillion (and growing) national debt.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Observers suggest that the test increases pressure on the United States and NATO to reconsider current policies and adapt to the introduction of underwater nuclear drones capable of evading ballistic missile shields.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
-
He was previously deported in 2006, 2014 and 2016, yet managed to re-enter at an unknown time and place, evading inspection, admission or parole by immigration authorities.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaking. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share