shudder

1 of 2

verb

shud·​der ˈshə-dər How to pronounce shudder (audio)
shuddered; shuddering ˈshə-d(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce shudder (audio)
Synonyms of shudder

intransitive verb

: to tremble convulsively : shiver, quiver

shudder

2 of 2

noun

: an act of shuddering
shuddery
ˈshə-d(ə-)rē How to pronounce shudder (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of shudder

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Verb

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of shudder in a Sentence

Verb The old car shuddered to a halt. The house shuddered as a plane flew overhead. Noun a shudder ran through him as he stepped outside into the snow
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Indiana Jones would shudder, but for herpetologist Scott Ballard, a slither doesn't produce a sliver of fear. — Noel Brennan, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 Conservatives shuddered to think how close the country had come to permanent entangling alliances. — Beverly Gage, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
Noun
The latest shudder for stocks in the artificial intelligence industry pulled markets lower worldwide on Thursday, while oil prices hit their highest levels since May on worries about the war with Iran. — Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026 The latest shudder for stocks in the artificial-intelligence industry pulled markets lower worldwide on Thursday, while oil prices hit their highest levels since May on worries about the war with Iran. — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shudder

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English shoddren; akin to Old High German skutten to shake and perhaps to Lithuanian kutėti to shake up

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1607, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shudder was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing shudder

Rhymes for shudder

See All Rhymes for shudder

Browse Nearby Words

shucky bean
shudder
shudderingly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shudder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shudder. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

shudder

1 of 2 verb
shud·​der ˈshəd-ər How to pronounce shudder (audio)
shuddered; shuddering -(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce shudder (audio)
1
: to tremble with fear or horror or from cold
shuddered just thinking about it
2
: shake entry 1 sense 1, quiver
the train slowed and shuddered to a halt

shudder

2 of 2 noun
: an act of shuddering : shiver
shuddery
-(ə-)rē How to pronounce shudder (audio)
adjective

Medical Definition

shudder

intransitive verb
shud·​der ˈshəd-ər How to pronounce shudder (audio)
shuddered; shuddering
: to tremble convulsively : shiver
shudder noun
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