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tremblingly

tremblingly

1 5.8
In a way that shows shaking from fear, cold, or weakness
  • adverb
  • /ˈtrɛmblɪŋli/
translation icon : temblorosamente
  • Before it, the air pressure could at times achieve a perfect balance of extreme forces, so that I could lean my body weight in any direction and remain tremblingly still.

Examples

  • I waited tremblingly for the results of my test, my heart racing with anxiety.

  • "I must leave the tower" was the single phrase lettered in front of me like a telegram to myself, and I crawled tremblingly, ponderously to the door of the spiral descent.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • I was chilled at the sight and passed tremblingly by.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Applying a little more pressure, I said, under my breath and through clenched teeth, "Open the door." "Wait, buddy, listen," he answered tremblingly.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • " He lies there like a jellyfish washed up, bulging, tremblingly full of a desire for its lost element.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • There being no object that stands out and holds the consciousness, nothing solid on which the eye can rest or the mind settle, we are tremblingly thrown back on our own subjectivity and our own fear of death.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Given here is a tremblingly precise, unknowing touch that has already begun, a Derridian "contraction" that occurs blindly, asymmetrically, rhythmically, in and outside time.

    Blog text (10)
  • "Young women may be termed romantic," she writes, "when they boast of being tremblingly alive all o'er, and faint and sigh as the novelist informs them they should" (7:19).

    Academic text (2010)
  • She approached the stage tremblingly, nervous about performing in front of the crowd.

  • As the storm raged outside, I sat tremblingly under the blanket, feeling chilly and scared.

Synonyms

shakily
vstremblingly
8 3.9

To speak or move in a trembling, unsteady way

emphasizes shaking specifically rather than general unsteadiness
quiveringly
vstremblingly
8.2

To shake slightly because of fear, cold, or strong feeling

is used more generally and often describes stronger shaking
shakingly
vstremblingly
5.2

Your hands or body move because you feel afraid

specifies usual causes like fear cold or weakness
shiveringly
vstremblingly
7.2

In a way that makes someone shake from cold or fear

is broader and also includes weakness as a cause
quaveringly
vstremblingly
8.6

In a trembling voice because of fear or strong feeling

is used for shaking from fear cold or weakness instead
shudderingly
vstremblingly
8.8

In a way that makes someone shiver from fear or disgust

usually covers ordinary shaking from cold fear or weakness not revulsion
twitchily
vstremblingly
7.0

In a nervous way with small quick movements

involves larger continuous shaking from fear cold or weakness

Antonyms

129 2.1

In a regular way without stopping

110 1.0

In a calm, steady way without showing anger or nervousness

How Shaky

tremblingly
1 5.8
tremulously
1 8.1

Surface Forms

tremblingly positive

Morphology

tremblingly = trembling (transparent) = tremble + ing + ly

Formed by adding the productive adverbial suffix '-ly' to the adjective 'trembling', yielding a predictable adverbial meaning.

Etymology

Tremblingly comes from the old root trem- meaning 'to shake', as in tremor. So, to act tremblingly is to act in a shaking way, often because of fear, cold, or weakness.