trembling
Quaking with fear
Trembling is shaking with small, rapid movements, usually from fear, cold, excitement, or physical weakness.
The word captures involuntary motion—hands trembling while holding a letter, a voice trembling with emotion, leaves trembling in the breeze.
As a noun, trembling is the act itself: A trembling came over her as she approached the stage.
Rapid involuntary movement
- quiveringShaking slightly and rapidly
- shudderingConvulsive trembling motion
- quakingTrembling or shuddering
- convulsionSudden involuntary muscle contractions
spasm · twitch · palpitation · vibration · wobble · unsteady · palsy · Parkinson's
Extreme, overwhelming fear
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
- frightSudden intense fear
alarm · anxiety · phobia · apprehension · trepidation · cowardice · timidity · unease
Involuntary bodily trembling
- chillCold sensation or relaxation
- hypothermiaDangerously low body temperature
- freezingExtremely cold
- numbLacking physical sensation
frostbite · goosebumps · teeth chattering · cold snap · exposure · windchill
Troubled by uncertainty
- jitteryAnxiously restless
- edgyTense and irritable
- tenseStrained or nervous
- worriedTroubled by uncertainty
fidgety · restless · skittish · uneasy · apprehensive · agitated · overwrought · butterflies
Shaking in tone
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- falteringBecoming unsteady or weak
- breakingComing apart suddenly
- crackingBreaking without separating completely
vibrato · shaky · unsteady · emotional · choked · sob · tearful · warble
Seismic ground movement
- aftershockSmaller quake following larger
- quakeSeismic ground trembling
- seismographEarthquake measuring device
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
magnitude · Richter · fault line · tectonics · tsunami · rumbling · ground shaking · seismic
shaking
Rapid involuntary movement
- quiveringShaking slightly and rapidly
- shudderingConvulsive trembling motion
- quakingTrembling or shuddering
convulsion · spasm · twitch · palpitation · vibration · wobble · unsteady · palsy · Parkinson's · weakness
terror
Extreme, overwhelming fear
fright · alarm · anxiety · phobia · apprehension · trepidation · cowardice · timidity · unease · disquiet
shivering
Involuntary bodily trembling
- chillCold sensation or relaxation
- hypothermiaDangerously low body temperature
- freezingExtremely cold
numb · frostbite · goosebumps · teeth chattering · cold snap · exposure · windchill
anxious
Troubled by uncertainty
worried · fidgety · restless · skittish · uneasy · apprehensive · agitated · overwrought · butterflies · anticipation
quavering
Shaking in tone
cracking · vibrato · shaky · unsteady · emotional · choked · sob · tearful · warble · quiver
earthquake
Seismic ground movement
- aftershockSmaller quake following larger
- quakeSeismic ground trembling
- seismographEarthquake measuring device
epicenter · magnitude · Richter · fault line · tectonics · tsunami · rumbling · ground shaking · seismic
- symptomsfever, headache, pain, nausea, rash
- bodily sensationspain, ache, tingling, burning, numbness
- body reactionssweating, blushing, shiver, goosebumps, twitch
- body responsesfight, flight, shivering, freeze, goosebumps
- body stressmuscle tension, soreness, stiffness, strain, aches
- emotional expressiontone, laughing, mood, yelling, crying
tremblingstill
Unmoving, or continuing
steady · motionless · stationary · stable · immobile
- trembling voice
- fear and tremblingOverwhelming awe-filled dread
- trembling aspenPoplar with restless leaves