The mere idea of swimming across the river made me tremble.
Source: tatoeba (23909)
Tremble
/ˈtɹɛmbl̩/
Synonyms for "tremble" (198 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (40)
Strong matches (59)
Verb(3 words)
Noun(9 words)
freak outfreak out onfreezefreeze to deathget high onglowgo pitapatgrimacegrow coldhalthave a chillhave an aguehave goose pimpleshave the fidgetshave the jittershave the shakesheaveheavingheebie-jeebieshorripilate
Related words (99)
pitter patterpitter-patterquailquakequakingquaverquaveringquiverquiveringquiversrecoilrestlessnessrictusrockshakeshake all overshakesshakingshivershivers
Show 46 more words
shockshrinkshuddersquirmsweatswellswell with emotionteeterthrillthrill tothrobthrobbingtictingletingle with excitementtosstoss and turntottertremblestremblingtremolandotremolanttremolotremortrepidationtrepiditytrilltrillettrilletotrillotumbleturn onturn on totwist and turntwitchtwitterunrestvibratevibrationvibratowigglewillieswincewobblewrigglewrithe
Noun(19 words)
Verb(13 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: shake, shiver, all-overs, anxiety, apprehension.
- Sentence evidence is available for tremble, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "tremble".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "tremble"
Keep "tremble" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "tremble" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "tremble", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "tremble" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
20 entriesShowing 16 of 20 words.
More specific
15 entriesbearing tremorfacial tremorfearhand tremormachinery tremormicrotremornervousnessquaverquiverseismic tremorshiverstammerstructural tremortrepidationvoice tremor
Collocations
11 entrieshand tremormuscle tremorphysiological tremorstructural tremortremble at the thoughttremble in feartremble slightlytremble uncontrollablytremble with coldtremble with fearvoice tremor
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
14 total sentences available.
He began to tremble during the movie.
Source: tatoeba (26469)
I may seem confident, but I get extremely nervous speaking in front of people. My hands tremble, I get all tongue-tied, and sometimes I don't even know what I'm saying myself.
Source: tatoeba (62321)
We felt the earth tremble.
Source: tatoeba (249048)
Showing 4 of 14 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "tremble"?
Closest matches include shake, shiver, all-overs, anxiety, apprehension.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "tremble"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.