shudder

[ shuhd-er ]

/ ˈʃʌd ər /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: shudder / shuddering on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

to tremble with a sudden convulsive movement, as from horror, fear, or cold.

noun

a convulsive movement of the body, as from horror, fear, or cold.

OTHER WORDS FOR shudder

1 quiver.

See synonyms for shudder on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"

"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."

Question 1 of 7

IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

have

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of shudder

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English shodderen (verb) (cognate with German schaudern, from Low German ), frequentative of Old English scūdan “to tremble”; see -er⁶

synonym study for shudder

1. See shiver¹.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH shudder

shudder , shutter

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use shudder in a sentence

The idea that you’d want “women’s hats” matching to “women’s accessories,” for example, gives me a shudder.
Google Ads wants advertisers to give broad match another shot|Ginny Marvin|November 16, 2020|Search Engine Land
“In 20 years, this just might be a city of Taco Bells,” one restaurateur recently shuddered.
High Rents Are Killing the Restaurant Capital|Will Doig|October 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was a moment I instantly detected in my own recent past, and I shuddered with embarrassed recognition.
Time to Grow Up, Lena Dunham|Emily Shire|October 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At 10:05 the south tower shuddered and collapsed; twenty-three minutes later the north tower fell as well.
The Resilient City: New York After 9/11|John Avlon|September 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Why, with the entirely expected death of a very old man, has the world shuddered, if not wept?
Goodbye, Madiba|Mark Gevisser|December 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I shuddered at the thought of a President McCain, who wanted to acquire wars like new suits.
The Case Against Isolation|Michael Tomasky|September 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Mamma shuddered and slipped away in the darkness to write a long letter to Papa.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
She shuddered with disgust as the rich brown water of the Nile came up to her breast, to her chin.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
This was not a bad idea, although the stranger shuddered as he thought of his ill-smelling stateroom and short berth.
The Cromptons|Mary J. Holmes
Into the study they might not go, and when Blanche would have asked why, Tom pressed her hand and shuddered.
The Daisy Chain|Charlotte Yonge
But she was his mother, and even her harsh nature shuddered before the task of instructing him in this vile thing.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for shudder

shudder

/ (ˈʃʌdə) /

verb

(intr) to shake or tremble suddenly and violently, as from horror, fear, aversion, etc

noun

the act of shuddering; convulsive shiver

Derived forms of shudder

shuddering, adjectiveshudderingly, adverbshuddery, adjective

Word Origin for shudder

C18: from Middle Low German schōderen; related to Old Frisian skedda to shake, Old High German skutten to shake

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

shudder

OTHER WORDS FOR shudder

Origin of shudder

synonym study for shudder

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH shudder

Words related to shudder

How to use shudder in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for shudder

Derived forms of shudder

Word Origin for shudder