tremulous
adjective
trem·u·lous
ˈtrem-yə-ləs 
2
: affected with timidity : timorous
3
: such as is or might be caused by nervousness or shakiness
a tremulous smile
4
: exceedingly sensitive : easily shaken or disordered
tremulously
adverb
tremulousness
noun
Did you know?
Are you shaky on the meaning of tremulous?
Do you suspect that tremulous must be closely related to tremble? If so, you're right. Both of those words derive from the Latin verb tremere, which means "to tremble." Some other English offspring of tremere are tremor, tremendous, temblor (another word for earthquake), and tremolo (a term that describes a vibrating and quavering musical effect that was particularly popular for electric guitars and organs in the 1970s).
Synonyms
Examples of tremulous in a Sentence
She opened the letter with tremulous hands.
He spoke with a tremulous voice.
Recent Examples on the Web
The convention kicked off Monday after a tremulous couple of months in the party after calls for President Joe Biden to step down from the 2024 presidential race, culminating in him walking from the race and backing Vice President Kamala Harris as the democratic nominee.
—
Joyce Orlando, The Tennessean, 19 Aug. 2024
Influential and destructive, Smith brings a tremulous self-delusion and confidence to the part, with a wild passion for life that contradicts everything young women are supposed to be taught at a strict all-girls school, particularly a fascination with men.
—Christina Newland, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2024
The New Yorker and the Times Magazine, GQ, Vogue, Esquire—all were run by aloof tyrants, typically described as legendary, who made every call before a small audience of tremulous editors.
—Christopher Carroll, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
She was played, in a star-making early role, by Winona Ryder, with a tremulous goth-girl resplendence that has never fully abandoned her.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tremulous 
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.
Joyce Orlando, The Tennessean, 19 Aug. 2024
Influential and destructive, Smith brings a tremulous self-delusion and confidence to the part, with a wild passion for life that contradicts everything young women are supposed to be taught at a strict all-girls school, particularly a fascination with men.
—Christina Newland, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2024
The New Yorker and the Times Magazine, GQ, Vogue, Esquire—all were run by aloof tyrants, typically described as legendary, who made every call before a small audience of tremulous editors.
—Christopher Carroll, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
She was played, in a star-making early role, by Winona Ryder, with a tremulous goth-girl resplendence that has never fully abandoned her.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tremulous
Dictionary Entries Near tremulous
Cite this Entry
“Tremulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tremulous. Accessed 27 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tremulous
adjective
trem·u·lous
ˈtrem-yə-ləs
1
: marked by or affected with trembling or tremors
tremulous hands
2
: fearful sense 2, timid
a shy tremulous person
3
: caused by or displaying nervousness or shakiness
a tremulous smile
Medical Definition
tremulous
adjective
trem·u·lous
ˈtrem-yə-ləs
tremulousness
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share