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
Relevance
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
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 shiver
Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
His announcement of a 25% tariff on all imports from Canada and Mexico sent a shiver through markets last week.
—Donica Phifer, Axios, 8 Dec. 2024
Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
The child went to the bathroom, came out, and began shivering, shaking and sweating, court documents show.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shiver
Noun
Borge Strand-Bergesen is a modest person with a dream to deliver the kind of listening experience that brings a big smile to your face and might send a shiver down your spine or bring a tear to your eye.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
His announcement of a 25% tariff on all imports from Canada and Mexico sent a shiver through markets last week.
—Donica Phifer, Axios, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
Every parent around the planet shivers in compassionate self-questioning.
—Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
The child went to the bathroom, came out, and began shivering, shaking and sweating, court documents show.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shiver
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shiver
Noun
-
Amina felt a shudder of annoyance at the bluntness of the comment, and also at its blindness—that signs of her transformation should be guessed at from her appearance.—
Ayşegül Savaş,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2025
-
Over Martin’s delicate playing, her aching rasp resonated to the rafters, a melancholy shudder that still sounded comforting.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA TODAY,
15 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Siba raced back inside and dropped to the ground, her entire body trembling.—
Christina Goldbaum,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
-
Even some spineless Republicans in Congress—who should be carrying President Trump's flag—are trembling instead of cheering his fight for America's soul.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
But Francis also contradicted himself and split some very specific hairs regarding LGBTQ+ rights.—
Samantha Riedel,
Them.,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Shortly after their divorce, Hurley announced her engagement to the Australian cricketer Shane Warne, and the couple split in 2013.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The United States Geological Survey reports that light shaking could be felt as far southeast as Bursa, which is approximately 97 miles south of Istanbul.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
-
On Tuesday, not so much, the Lakers showing their clear dominance in every area backed by a legendarily springtime loud home crowd that annually shakes, rattles and rolls.—
Bill Plaschke,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The journalist raised her hand, and her voice quivered in seeming alarm as the 6.2-magnitude quake shook Istanbul shortly before 1 p.m. local time on Wednesday, April 23.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
People.com,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Five minutes before the show was to start, nine rows of bleachers in a temporary grandstand, hastily assembled, quivered and crashed, swallowing about 600 men, women and children.—
Mike Klingaman,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
In a thousand-page decision, the Court provided no evidence that a temple had been destroyed to build the mosque, and acknowledged that the mosque had been torn down by an angry mob.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
-
While many were torn down, in some communities, local organizations rallied to preserve these depots and reuse them in creative ways.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Even if Gabe Landeskog never skates a shift at the American Airlines Center, Lone Star faithful oughta be quaking in their chaps.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2025
-
After the quaking subsides, Annie—left with no phone, money, or car—begins walking across what remains of the city.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The trade war has vaporized trillions of dollars from the stock market, caused the dollar to plunge, and tipped America’s economy closer to recession.—
Ryan Hass,
Time,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Parker was vaporized by the explosion, but Sieler somehow survived to testify against Nesbit and Parker’s other killers.—
Nick Woltman,
Twin Cities,
15 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shiver.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shiver. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share