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
Kelsey Piper, Vox, 12 May 2025
Scared, shivering, and alone, a Bernese Mountain dog was trapped in some rocks by the water, unable to free itself at the Chinese Reconciliation Park in Tacoma, Washington.
—Kendall Malinchock, USA Today, 9 May 2025
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
Despite her young age, even a gentle whisper of Lana’s name on the scene is enough to send shivers of excitement down the spines of New Yorkers from the clubs of Brooklyn to Manhattan.
—EW.com, 8 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shiver
Noun
Beside him, the boy Tommen shivered visibly, his leather jerkin inadequate against the unnatural chill that had descended with the dusk.
—Kelsey Piper, Vox, 12 May 2025
Scared, shivering, and alone, a Bernese Mountain dog was trapped in some rocks by the water, unable to free itself at the Chinese Reconciliation Park in Tacoma, Washington.
—Kendall Malinchock, USA Today, 9 May 2025
Verb
Twangy bass lines thick enough to saw down a redwood tree are shredded with shivers of electric guitar to create a blues sound that cuts a hole straight through the decades.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
Despite her young age, even a gentle whisper of Lana’s name on the scene is enough to send shivers of excitement down the spines of New Yorkers from the clubs of Brooklyn to Manhattan.
—EW.com, 8 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shiver
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shiver
Noun
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The band enlisted the great Mike Mills to direct, with Saoirse Ronan starring as an office worker who dances, squirms, shudders, and screams through her daily routine.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
5 June 2025
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In this community, mention of President Trump elicits shudders, frowns or blank stares.—
Kurt Streeter,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Verb
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As Sofia unfolded the pages during her graduation celebration, her voice trembled.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
18 June 2025
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Already nervous and trembling, Wood captures the terror and claustrophobia of having your head clamped in place and one eye pried open with a speculum.—
Gayle Sequeira,
Vulture,
16 May 2025
Verb
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That allowed Igor Jesus to put Botafogo in front to stay shortly before the intermission, splitting a pair of PSG defenders to run on to Jefferson Savarino’s perfectly weighted through ball, then beating keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from the top of the box.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2025
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Boomers’ children aren’t getting hitched as easily, and those who do are less likely to split up.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
20 June 2025
Verb
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The tragedy shook the small Ohio town — and stunned viewers who remembered the Stockdale family's 2008 appearance on ABC's Wife Swap.—
Christina Coulter,
People.com,
21 June 2025
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And beside them, Milford, Weymouth and St. John’s of Shrewsbury also shook off their sub-20 seeding to advance at least once in an all-time showing of parity.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
21 June 2025
Verb
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Those emotional generators are apparent on the title track, a minimal hymn of salvation wrapped in Springsteen’s quivering voice.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
24 June 2025
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My son swayed gently between my legs, still wearing last night’s jammies, azure eyes trained on the flutist’s quivering embouchure.—
Ashlea Halpern,
AFAR Media,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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There’s a catch: Before the sale can go through, the company wants the Landmarks Preservation Commission to de-designate the building so that it can be torn down.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
27 June 2025
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His daytime classical studies and nighttime performances in Paris jazz clubs helped to solidify his theory that the walls between classical and jazz were artificial and should be torn down.—
Jon Burlingame,
Variety,
26 June 2025
Verb
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Harper crumbled to one knee, wincing in anguish, as Phillies fans quaked with their worst possible nightmare — that their superstar first-baseman is seriously injured.—
Anthony Stitt,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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Mountains rise, volcanoes spew, and Earth itself quakes as the crust constantly remakes itself in the ceaseless cycle of plate tectonics.—
Elise Cutts,
Scientific American,
13 May 2025
Verb
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When a comet gets close to the sun, its nucleus heats up, and the ice vaporizes to form its glowing coma (head) and tail.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
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The impact vaporized rocks, releasing large quantities of sulfur and dust into the air.—
Tim Vernimmen,
JSTOR Daily,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shiver.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shiver. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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