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
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2026
Shake off the winter shivers, Boise.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 22 Jan. 2026
Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 27 Jan. 2026
Your body burns additional calories in the cold from shivering.
—Kaelyn Lynch, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shiver
Noun
The mere mention of bed bugs is enough to send a shiver down the spine.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2026
Shake off the winter shivers, Boise.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
Your body burns additional calories in the cold from shivering.
—Kaelyn Lynch, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shiver
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shiver
Noun
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So, too, is the film’s music, composer Anthony Willis and soundtrack artist Charli XCX entwining raspy strings with grimy, ominous shudders.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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The age of trade protectionism returned to America in 2025 with the shudder of a closing customs gate.—
Inu Manak,
Time,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Even the opening credits, some written in slithering hair, seem to tremble out of either fear or ecstasy.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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And the actions of these players have observers: a disempowered domestic staff, forced only to watch in a kind of trembling horror, like Palm Beach waiters seeing altogether too much, linking this work based on Oscar Wilde’s famously controversial play to classic Greek tragedy.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Karaban almost had a costly turnover on an inbound play with 14 seconds left, but the Huskies fouled up three and Mulready split his free throw attempts, setting up the game-clinching freebies from the Huskies’ captain.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
15 Feb. 2026
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Although the servicing stop for the California Zephyr is too short to explore beyond the platform, Denver is a great overnight choice for passengers splitting up the 43-hour journey.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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And there have been nerves about AI eating into software’s market share for a while.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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On March 9, Avry Jo, who is now 4, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a highly aggressive cancer of the nerves that typically occurs within the first few years of life.—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In recent editions, the rosters were drafted by James, Durant and Antetokounmpo in an attempt to shake things up.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
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Jothan saw us and shook our hands, as did Michael Ray, but Sun Ra scuffled by with an air of depthless blankness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Few things shake the confidence of a person like crawling to the top bunk of a quivering bed frame, your feet wrapping uncomfortably along the frail metal rungs of the ladder.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
27 Jan. 2026
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Over the years, Andrews has garnered comparisons to fellow Arizona native Linda Ronstadt for her rich, clear tone, which can modulate from quivering vibrato to crystalline belt on a dime.—
Lily Goldberg,
Pitchfork,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Heavy equipment has been razing the multi-level concrete parking garage at 99 Founders Plaza for the past several weeks, and then will tear down the 150,000-square-foot former Bank of America offices.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
5 Feb. 2026
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The audience might still be recovering; the year is young, but no one who saw Pierce tear down the Troubadour is likely to experience anything more memorable in 2026.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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For those communities quaking in terror, simply waiting three years for a new president is not sufficient.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shiver.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shiver. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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