Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Shudder

//ˈʃʌd.ə// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A shivering tremor, often from fear or horror.

    "Seeing the spider under his pillow gave John a shudder."

  2. 2
    an involuntary vibration (as if from illness or fear) wordnet
  3. 3
    A moment of almost pleasurable fear; a frisson.

    "They name thee before me, / ⁠A knell to mine ear; / A shudder comes o'er me— / ⁠Why wert thou so dear?"

  4. 4
    an almost pleasurable sensation of fright wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To shake nervously, often from fear or horror. intransitive

    "On seeing the spider under his pillow, John shuddered."

  2. 2
    shake, as from cold wordnet
  3. 3
    To vibrate jerkily. intransitive
  4. 4
    tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English schoderen, from Middle Dutch schudderen and/or Middle Low German schodderen, iterative forms of the verb at hand in Dutch schudden, Low German schüdden (both “to shake”), German schütten (“to pour”), from Proto-Germanic *skudjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *skewdʰ-. From Low German are also borrowed German schaudern (“to shudder”), Danish skudre.

Etymology 2

From Middle English schoderen, from Middle Dutch schudderen and/or Middle Low German schodderen, iterative forms of the verb at hand in Dutch schudden, Low German schüdden (both “to shake”), German schütten (“to pour”), from Proto-Germanic *skudjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *skewdʰ-. From Low German are also borrowed German schaudern (“to shudder”), Danish skudre.

See also for "shudder"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: shudder