shudder

verb
shud·​der | \ ˈshə-dər How to pronounce shudder (audio) \
shuddered; shuddering\ ˈshə-​d(ə-​)riŋ How to pronounce shuddering (audio) \

Definition of shudder

 (Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to tremble convulsively : shiver, quiver

shudder

noun

Definition of shudder (Entry 2 of 2)

: an act of shuddering

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Other Words from shudder

Noun

shuddery \ ˈshə-​d(ə-​)rē How to pronounce shuddery (audio) \ adjective

Synonyms for shudder

Synonyms: Verb

agitate, bucket, convulse, jerk, jiggle, joggle, jolt, jounce, judder [chiefly British], quake, quiver, shake, vibrate, wobble (also wabble)

Synonyms: Noun

quiver, shiver, tremble

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Examples of shudder in a Sentence

Verb

The old car shuddered to a halt. The house shuddered as a plane flew overhead.

Noun

a shudder ran through him as he stepped outside into the snow
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Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

When law enforcement attempted to investigate, every potential witness transformed into a co-conspirator as Skidmore shuddered its doors to the outside world and nobody claimed to see anything. Ew Staff, EW.com, "What to Watch on Thursday: iZombie's corpse grows cold with series finale," 1 Aug. 2019 His absurd conclusion that Muslims cannot be trusted with full and unconditional religious freedom should make every person of faith and goodwill shudder. Dp Opinion, The Denver Post, "John Andrews’ speech “based in fear and deception”; Oil rules don’t work both ways; more letters (7/24/19)," 24 July 2019 Or when a goose bumped into the long arm of the ultralight that held the GoPro camera and the plane shuddered. Robin Aigner, Condé Nast Traveler, "A Man, a Tiny Aircraft, and a Flock of Geese: Flying Among Birds in France," 22 July 2019 Many of the cars shudder and jerk and frighten and irritate owners. Phoebe Wall Howard, Detroit Free Press, "Ford secretly tells dealers: Fix faulty Focus, Fiesta transmissions until July 19," 18 July 2019 Like many Chicagoans, Barry Star shudders when someone asks for ketchup on a hot dog. Michael Mayo, sun-sentinel.com, "Hot dog! 100 years of wieners at Hot Dog Heaven in Fort Lauderdale and Arbetter’s in Miami," 2 July 2019 Markets shuddered last winter as the Fed continued raising rates, but recovered as Trump appeared to move toward reaching a settlement with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. Donna Borak, CNN, "Trump has already changed the Fed forever," 23 June 2019 And amid it all, crowded into the small space of a converted coal freighter, 100-odd shuddering men, their stomachs devastated by moldy food, holding on to frozen ropes with their bare hands. Christoph Irmscher, WSJ, "‘Georg Forster’ Review: In Search of Earthly Paradise," 22 Feb. 2019 At 9:45 pm, everyone onboard knew that something bad had happened: The vessel shuddered, and the passengers heard a loud grinding sound. Barbara S. Peterson, Popular Mechanics, "What Went Wrong on the Costa Concordia," 14 July 2014

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The arrangement shudders, as if disturbed by his outburst. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, "Thom Yorke’s Beautiful New Nightmare," 29 June 2019 The tent shudders on its stout poles and the tent fabric strains at its triple-sewn seams, seething and popping. Barry Lopez, Harper's magazine, "Polar Light," 10 Jan. 2019 While parts of the Bay Area shudder at the thought of more people and traffic, some cities are happy to have Facebook’s satellite offices. Wendy Lee, San Francisco Chronicle, "Facebook is outgrowing its hometown. Where will it go next?," 26 May 2018 The first thing the pilots would have heard or felt is a bang, sway, or shudder, as the engine failed. Jack Stewart, WIRED, "How Southwest Flight 1380's Pilots Landed With a Blown Engine," 17 Apr. 2018 That poor teen having to consider (shudders) their back-up state school for a few weeks? Anne Branigin, The Root, "Black Teen Who Won Full Ride to 20 Colleges Wants Apology From Reporter Who Called His Effort 'Obnoxious'," 13 Apr. 2018 That wouldn't touch the biggest jetliners, but the idea sent a shudder through the industry. Samantha Masunaga, latimes.com, "How a U.S.-China trade war could hit airplane makers where it hurts," 4 Apr. 2018 The spots where those systems weaken, shudder, and fail are the locations of Collateral’s plot. Josephine Livingstone, The New Republic, ""Collateral," a new police procedural on Netflix, broods over the refugee crisis.," 3 Apr. 2018 These movies are wonderful when they're all about set pieces, and world-building (shudder, that word). Simon Abrams, The Hollywood Reporter, "Dissecting 'Ready Player One' and Its Biggest Problem," 1 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shudder.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of shudder

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1607, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for shudder

Verb

Middle English shoddren; akin to Old High German skutten to shake and perhaps to Lithuanian kutėti to shake up

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More Definitions for shudder

shudder

verb

English Language Learners Definition of shudder

of a person : to shake because of fear, cold, etc.
of a thing : to shake violently

shudder

verb
shud·​der | \ ˈshə-dər How to pronounce shudder (audio) \
shuddered; shuddering

Kids Definition of shudder

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to tremble especially with fear or horror or from cold
2 : to move or sound as if being shaken The train slowed and shuddered to a halt.