as in trembling
marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements
suffered a shaking chill during his bout with the flu
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in twitching
a series of slight movements by a body back and forth or from side to side
gave the bottle of salad dressing a good shaking
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in escape
the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable
condemned the government's shaking of its overseas responsibilities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in jerking
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements
the bus rattled and shook as it barreled down a rutted road
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in avoiding
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery
we shook our pursuers by cutting through the abandoned lot
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shaking
Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 25 Apr. 2026
The team also found that certain near-surface features, such as softer rock layers above where the stopping phase happens, can further enhance it, leading to more severe shaking of the ground at the surface.
—Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026
Moderate shaking woke residents near the epicenter and was strong enough to break dishes, while light tremors rippled across the broader Bay Area.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Residents in the area reported light to moderate shaking, according to the USGS, with residents as far north as Berkeley and San Francisco and as far south as Soledad reporting feeling shaking as well.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
Michael Silver, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Backstage, everyone was crying and shaking, Pearlman says.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 26 Apr. 2026
Structure information summary Most structures in this region are resistant to earthquake shaking, though vulnerable structures exist.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 25 Apr. 2026
So after shaking, double strain in to a cocktail glass and garnish with a lime wheel.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2026
But many of them were left shaking their head and wringing their Terrible Towels in disappointment because the Eagles swooped in and stole wide receiver Makai Lemon.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
On March 19, 2022, São Jorge Island—a volcanic isle in Portugal’s Azores archipelago—started shaking.
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026
Many community members reported feeling the ground shaking.
—Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 30 points on a 16-for-16 afternoon at the foul line, shaking off a slow start and a twisted right ankle after Jaden McDaniels closed out into his landing space on an early 3-point attempt.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 18 Apr. 2026
Noun
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 25 Apr. 2026
The team also found that certain near-surface features, such as softer rock layers above where the stopping phase happens, can further enhance it, leading to more severe shaking of the ground at the surface.
—Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026
Moderate shaking woke residents near the epicenter and was strong enough to break dishes, while light tremors rippled across the broader Bay Area.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Residents in the area reported light to moderate shaking, according to the USGS, with residents as far north as Berkeley and San Francisco and as far south as Soledad reporting feeling shaking as well.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
On Thursday night, after shaking off a deal that was short-circuited by another team, the Ravens would make a pick (Penn State guard Vega Ioane) that symbolically spoke to the franchise’s core values.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Backstage, everyone was crying and shaking, Pearlman says.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 26 Apr. 2026
Structure information summary Most structures in this region are resistant to earthquake shaking, though vulnerable structures exist.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 25 Apr. 2026
So after shaking, double strain in to a cocktail glass and garnish with a lime wheel.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2026
But many of them were left shaking their head and wringing their Terrible Towels in disappointment because the Eagles swooped in and stole wide receiver Makai Lemon.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
On March 19, 2022, São Jorge Island—a volcanic isle in Portugal’s Azores archipelago—started shaking.
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026
Many community members reported feeling the ground shaking.
—Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 30 points on a 16-for-16 afternoon at the foul line, shaking off a slow start and a twisted right ankle after Jaden McDaniels closed out into his landing space on an early 3-point attempt.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 18 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaking
Noun
-
All the trembling, as Kimbangu touched the sick, alarmed European settlers and reassured the plantation workers who trekked to Nkamba in search of healing.—
Rodney Muhumuza,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
At first this change of scale vivifies the butterfly—its brief stillness, the angle of its wings, its trembling—while freezing everything else, including the novel’s action.—
Ben Lerner,
The New York Review of Books,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For years, Asheville, North Carolina, marketed itself as a mountain escape known for breweries, boutique hotels and Blue Ridge views.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
-
This time, though, the prison is on a space station, making his attempt at escape even trickier than before.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Tony Fauci was not just jerking the country around.—
David Blumenthal,
Fortune,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The clip on TikTok shows the seat jerking abruptly, apparently from forceful pushes by the person seated behind her.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Holland's not quite sure why so many in his generation are avoiding alcohol.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
-
Nia has no interest at all in talking to them or even a strategy for avoiding them.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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During this phase, octopuses display visible twitching along with rapid changes in skin color and texture, per NPR.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Gosnell did not testify at his 2013 trial, but his defense attorney argued that none of the fetuses were born alive and that any movements were posthumous twitching or spasms, according to the AP.—
Greg Norman-Diamond,
FOXNews.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Because the Celtics, provided they close-out the 76ers, have the kind of shooters the Hawks don’t.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Batavia trailed 2-1 going into the fifth, but Liam Darre started the rally with a one-out double.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That all came to a shuddering halt after Khashoggi’s death.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Sat shuddering in my seat as the lights drew down.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Jones faces charges for property theft, money laundering and evading arrest, the release stated.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Poole was arrested by the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office Fugitive Unit on May 31, 2024, after spending months evading law enforcement.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaking. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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