tremulous

[ trem-yuh-luhs ]

adjective

1. (of persons, the body, etc.) characterized by trembling, as from fear, nervousness, or weakness.

   Synonyms: hesitant

2. timid; timorous; fearful.

   Synonyms: afraid, frightened

3. (of things) vibratory, shaking, or quivering.
4. (of writing) done with a trembling hand.

tremulous

/ ˈtrɛmjʊləs /

adjective

1. vibrating slightly; quavering; trembling

   a tremulous voice

2. showing or characterized by fear, anxiety, excitement, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈtremulously, adverb
• ˈtremulousness, noun

Other Words From

• tremu·lous·ly adverb
• tremu·lous·ness noun
• un·tremu·lous adjective
• un·tremu·lous·ly adverb
• un·tremu·lous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tremulous¹

1605–15; < Latin tremulus, equivalent to trem ( ere ) to tremble + -ulus adj. suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of tremulous¹

C17: from Latin tremulus quivering, from tremere to shake

Example Sentences

This year that tremulous feeling of going to the airport became different.

From The Daily Beast

That tremulous “uhhhh,” which lasted more than a full second, gave the game away.

From The Daily Beast

The world has moved on from those tremulous Boomer anxieties.

From The Daily Beast

Rather than risk creating a “tremulous” signature, Lincoln instead commenced massaging his giant hands together.

From The Daily Beast

They formed tremulous islands about which the water-lilies spread their great heart-shaped leaves and snow-white flowers.

From Project Gutenberg

My own,” he cried softly, but in tremulous tones, “six months have passed now since I made you a promise.

From Project Gutenberg

The tremulous emotion I had observed increased as he said this, and again took the jug from my hand.

From Project Gutenberg

The bald one's eyes closed and his belly quivered with high, tremulous laughter.

From Project Gutenberg

He tore apart his shirt with tremulous fingers, to display many a long black scar crawling across his brown chest.

From Project Gutenberg