tremulous

American  

[trem-yuh-luhs] / ˈtrɛm yə ləs /

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.

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tremulous British  

/ ˈtrɛmjʊləs /

adjective

1. vibrating slightly; quavering; trembling

   a tremulous voice

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

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Other Word Forms

• tremulously adverb
• tremulousness noun
• untremulous adjective
• untremulously adverb
• untremulousness noun

Etymology

Origin of tremulous

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

Example Sentences

While it doesn’t share that series’ satiric humor, it is a solid mystery-thriller that Thompson’s jaded Zoë Boehm and Wilson’s tremulous but tough Sarah Tucker lift into the revelatory.

From Los Angeles Times

Fife's Jacob Alon is possessed of an otherworldly voice – simultaneously angelic and tremulous with vulnerability.

From BBC

Odell's voice, which tends towards the tremulous, thrums with emotional resonance, gently underscored by brushed drums and swelling strings.

From BBC

The independent presidential candidate recounts those times somewhat wistfully, telling interviewers that he “can’t stand” the sound of his voice today — sometimes choked, halting and slightly tremulous.

From Los Angeles Times

Yet Lou also remains super-jumpy and wary, like someone permanently looking over her shoulder, and Stewart gives the character a tremulous energy that vibrates in her every look, gesture and head bob.

From New York Times