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
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Shakespeare has Lear ask his shivering Fool, freshly aware thanks to his ordeal on the heath—a kind of exposure therapy—of the physical vulnerability of his subjects.
—Andrew Kay, Harpers Magazine, 28 May 2025
Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2025
And the first tsunami wave of tariffs announced in April sent shivers through bond markets, leaving the global economy teetering on the brink before Trump’s advisers convinced him to temporarily pause most of the new tariffs.
—Wally Adeyemo, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shiver
Noun
Alongside the radiant climaxes, the chorus achieves spells of shivering inwardness.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Shakespeare has Lear ask his shivering Fool, freshly aware thanks to his ordeal on the heath—a kind of exposure therapy—of the physical vulnerability of his subjects.
—Andrew Kay, Harpers Magazine, 28 May 2025
Verb
Hank is a Dallas Cowboys diehard; the idea of Bobby getting into the Premier League sends him into full-body shivers.
—Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2025
And the first tsunami wave of tariffs announced in April sent shivers through bond markets, leaving the global economy teetering on the brink before Trump’s advisers convinced him to temporarily pause most of the new tariffs.
—Wally Adeyemo, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shiver
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shiver
Noun
-
Do not get engaged at 21 (Belly and Jeremiah again, with the tiny ring that made TikTok shudder).—
Vogue,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The details of this feat, performed before a crowd in downtown Phoenix, still make those with acrophobia shudder.—
Douglas C. Towne,
AZCentral.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In the elevator of the Associated Press Building at Rockefeller Plaza, Sunny’s brows trembled.—
Kiran Desai,
New Yorker,
3 Aug. 2025
-
But then the cheers from his fans would begin, and Hogan would tremble with energy.—
John DeVore,
Rolling Stone,
26 July 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Cleveland was mostly splitting its DH at-bats between Manzardo and David Fry … whose September pop came on an accidental Tarik Skubal fastball to his nose.—
Ryan Ford,
Freep.com,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The acquisition announcement comes as MSNBC prepares to split from NBC as part of parent company Comcast’s move to spin off its cable properties into a separate company, to be called Versant.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Williams also underwent blood tests and electrophysiological testing to measure the electrical activity of his nerves and muscles, as well as physical testing once a month.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Clear info calms the nerves and gets people ready to party.—
Elle Chan,
Rolling Stone,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Weak to light shaking was recorded, and people in several cities - such as Big Bear City, Big Bear Lake and Angelus Oaks - reported experiencing the tremor, according to the USGS DYFI report.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The region has been shaken Other nations in the region have been affected by the tumult.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The music of home often quivers with nostalgia.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
22 Sep. 2025
-
There’s a breathless mood in the air that quivers and quakes at the protests to come.—
Sara Stridsberg
September 15,
Literary Hub,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Jaclyn Penn was disappointed to see the Leawood City Council vote in favor of tearing down the old City Hall building.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The report said the parish did not provide reasoning for why the rectory should be torn down.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The agitated, ominous vibration of giant power lines and quaking transmission towers feels like a Greek chorus throughout Paul Greengrass’s intense new wildfire thriller, The Lost Bus.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The defensive star’s recent trade from Dallas to Green Bay quaked the NFL.—
Greg Cote
September 4,
Miami Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shiver.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shiver. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share