Synonyms for shake
verb
To vibrate
tremble, quiver, quake, shiver, shudder, palpitate, waver, fluctuate, reel, flap, flutter, totter, thrill, wobble, stagger, waggle; see also wave 1, 3.
To cause to vibrate
agitate, rock, sway, swing, joggle, jolt, jounce, bounce, brandish, jar, move, flourish, set in motion, convulse.
See shake in American Heritage Dictionary 4 Synonyms
shake tremble quake quiver 1shiver 1shudder
These verbs mean to manifest involuntary vibratory movement. Shake is the most general: The floor shook when I walked heavily across the room.
Tremble implies quick, rather slight movement, as from excitement, weakness, or anger: The speaker trembled as he denounced his opponents.
Quake refers to more violent movement, as that caused by shock or upheaval: I was so scared that my legs began to quake.
Quiver suggests a slight, rapid, tremulous movement: “Her lip quivered like that of a child about to cry” (Booth Tarkington).
Shiver involves rapid trembling, as of a person experiencing chill: “as I in hoary winter night stood shivering in the snow” (Robert Southwell).
Shudder applies chiefly to convulsive shaking caused by fear, horror, or revulsion: “She starts like one that spies an adder/ . . . The fear whereof doth make him shake and shudder” (Shakespeare).
See Also Synonyms at
agitate,
dismay.
See shake in Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus II
verb
To cause to move to and fro with short, jerky movements:
jiggle, joggle. See repetitionTo move to and fro in short, jerky movements:
quake, quaver, quiver, shiver1, shudder, tremble, twitter, vibrate. See repetitionTo cause to move to and fro violently:
agitate, churn, convulse, rock. See calm, repetitionTo move to and fro violently:
quake, rock, tremble, vibrate. See repetitionTo alter the settled state or position of:
dislocate, displace, disturb, move, shift. See move- (Slang)
To free from or cast out something objectionable or undesirable:
clear, disburden, disembarrass, disencumber, release, relieve, rid, shake off, throw off, unburden. See keep - (Slang)
To get away from (a pursuer):
elude, evade, lose, shake off, slip, throw off. Idiom: give someone the shake (or slip). See seek To impair or destroy the composure of.
Also used with up: agitate, bother, discompose, disquiet, distract, disturb, flurry, fluster, perturb, rock, ruffle, toss, unsettle, upset. (Informal) rattle. See calmTo deprive of courage or the power to act as a result of fear, anxiety, or disgust:
appall, consternate, daunt, dismay, horrify, shock1. See fear
phrasal verb shake down- (Slang)
To obtain by coercion or intimidation:
exact, extort, squeeze, wrench, wrest, wring. See get - (Slang)
To make a thorough search of:
comb, forage, ransack, rummage, scour2. Idioms: beat the bushes, leave no stone unturned, look (or search) high and low, look (or search) up and down, turn inside out, turn upside down. See investigate - (Slang)
To examine the person or personal effects of in order to find something lost or concealed:
frisk, inspect, search. See investigate
phrasal verb shake offTo free from or cast out something objectionable or undesirable:
clear, disburden, disembarrass, disencumber, release, relieve, rid, throw off, unburden. (Slang) shake. See keepTo get away from (a pursuer):
elude, evade, lose, slip, throw off. (Slang) shake. Idiom: give someone the shake (or slip). See seek
noun
A nervous shaking of the body:
quake, quiver, shiver1, shudder, thrill, tic, tremor, twitch. See repetition- (Informal)
A shaking of the earth:
earthquake, quake, seism, temblor, tremblor, tremor. See move, repetition - (Informal)
A state of nervous restlessness or agitation.
Used in plural: fidget (often used in plural), jitter (used in plural), jump (used in plural), shiver1 (used in plural), tremble (often used in plural). (Informal) all-overs. (Slang) heebie-jeebies, jim-jams, willies. See calm, fear
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