1
as in shudder
an instance of shaking involuntarily with fear or cold
the prisoner experienced a sudden shiver when confronted with the sight of the dark basement
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in butterflies
shivers plural
a sense of panic or extreme nervousness
looking down from the window ledge sent shivers up my spine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shiver
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
Algebra in between scenes… sends shivers down my spine!
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Rick Jervis, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
North Texas will continue to shiver Tuesday from the record-setting cold weather that arrived last weekend, though no winter precipitation is expected.
—Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shiver
Noun
Loznitsa’s methods are grim and exacting, but the effect is never monotonous; there are shivers of Hitchcockian suspense, plus a whispery cackle of satire that veers toward the Kafkaesque.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
Algebra in between scenes… sends shivers down my spine!
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
Two days later, Amaya became violently ill, shivering with high temperatures and crying constantly.
—Rick Jervis, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
North Texas will continue to shiver Tuesday from the record-setting cold weather that arrived last weekend, though no winter precipitation is expected.
—Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shiver
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shiver
Noun
-
In early April, Anthropic sent shudders through the tech community with Claude’s Mythos Preview model.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
-
That process of a rupture hitting a barrier creates a signature called a stopping phase—a seismic shudder traveling the opposite direction to the main rupture.—
Jacek Krywko,
Scientific American,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The simulation is so immersive that windows, shaped like those of a plane, show drifting clouds as the room trembles with faux turbulence.—
Chris Malloy,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Apr. 2026
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This level of exercise includes shoulder stabilization through a downward dog series, the core engaged in boat pose, and legs that work hard enough to tremble during chair pose.—
William Jones,
Ascend Agency,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Critics have argued the skyway makes the challenge of filling empty storefronts doubly difficult, as second-floor retail effectively splits a dwindling customer and retail base between two levels.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
10 May 2026
-
By Mark O’Connell The conservative media commentator split with the administration over the war in Iran.—
Susan Dominus Dina Litovsky Mark O’Connell Lulu Garcia-Navarro Amy X. Wang Nitsuh Abebe Linda Kinstler Lisa Sanders, M.D. Kwame Anthony Appiah John Hodgman,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff theorized that there were more distractions at home and possibly more nerves trying to give the home crowd its money’s worth.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
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Tremors happen when nerves aren’t properly communicating with certain muscles.—
Patrick Whittle,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Even with only two-thirds of the lower bowl of Grand Casino Arena filled, the cheers of relief from the fans when Morin scored the game-tying and game leading goals shook the arena as if the place was packed full.—
Staff Report,
Twin Cities,
9 May 2026
-
Her daytime meals are pretty consistent and include yogurts, protein bars, protein shakes and protein pasta.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
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,
Literary Hub,
8 May 2026
-
In the 1970s, James Lovelock proposed that the biosphere was not just green scruff quivering on Earth's surface.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The site later passed its final inspection in December, saving the building from being torn down.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
7 May 2026
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Notably, the same kids host a show dedicated to tearing down everything their parents stand for.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Rock big enough to quake an indoor stadium.—
Brendan Hay,
SPIN,
13 Apr. 2026
-
By 2020, another part of the island nation, the Reykjanes Peninsula, had begun to quake.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shiver.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shiver. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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