as in shaking
marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements
found the quaking stray dog wandering outside in the rain
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in shuddering
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements
the horror film was so scary it left us quaking with fear for hours afterwards
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of quaking
Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 3 Feb. 2026
For those communities quaking in terror, simply waiting three years for a new president is not sufficient.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026
The jiggly, quaking contraption is eye-catching—a natural social media star.
—Julia Sullivan, Outside, 23 Dec. 2025
The majority of the action, however, unfolds in a claustrophobic one-shot inside a tent, with our heroes quaking at the whoops and cries surrounding them.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
Alex arrives to find Lucy literally quaking in fear, especially when Stephen summons the two of them to come meet his latest prey, whose name is Tegan.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 3 Feb. 2026
For those communities quaking in terror, simply waiting three years for a new president is not sufficient.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026
The jiggly, quaking contraption is eye-catching—a natural social media star.
—Julia Sullivan, Outside, 23 Dec. 2025
The majority of the action, however, unfolds in a claustrophobic one-shot inside a tent, with our heroes quaking at the whoops and cries surrounding them.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quaking
Noun
-
Its strength ranges from mild, causing little more discomfort than a slight trembling, to severe, in which passengers or flight crew can be thrown around the cabin and risk injury if not wearing seatbelts.—
Cat Rainsford,
Popular Science,
15 Jan. 2026
-
There’s Walter’s serene cello and Marjorie’s pensive, slightly coy violin, sometimes playful or petulant or, still, a little vain and secretive — other times thin and trembling, lost in the haze of dementia.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Figure skater Amber Glenn skated off the ice, shaking her head after an early landing bobble during today's competition.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Both physical strength and constant mental attention are required for this sport in order to control heart rate and shaking in the muscles.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The old dog slowed to a stop, nose full of bird stink, feathery tail quivering.—
Joel M. Vance,
Outdoor Life,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Most of the camp was enclosed with an electrified fence, to keep out the Big Men, the massive, shuddering ursids that could not be named (more on that later).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Dec. 2025
-
With haunted vocal multitracking and big, shuddering beats, the album builds to a climax in which hope and fear are swept into the same rush of human experience.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
12 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
That week’s host, Emily Blunt, did the trembly voice-over.—
Michael Schulman,
The New Yorker,
21 Dec. 2020
Noun
-
In the first stills that have been released, Pfeiffer is seen sitting in a wooden rocking chair on a porch.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Expect leather benches, custom drapery, rattan rocking chairs, and oversize armoires that discreetly conceal the tile-and-marble bathrooms with soaking tubs and bamboo shades.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The room sighs in relief a second later when Buckley reanimates, jerking and flailing like a soul possessed, grinning maniacally — all on purpose, inspired by the earlier veil snafu.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Feb. 2026
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Some signs that the carburetor is clogged on a snow blower are starting then dying a few seconds afterward, jerking, sputtering noises, and black smoke emitting from the exhaust.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Symptoms are fatigue, confusion, disorientation, excessive shivering and loss of coordination.—
Amanda McCoy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Jan. 2026
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Once moderate hypothermia sets in, the opposite effect happens — heart rate, breathing and shivering will slow and eventually stop.—
Karl Hille,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Quaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quaking. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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