quivery - Glite Dictionary

Examples

I have some clients I see daily: Rose Banovitz, who lives in a seedy area on Commonwealth Avenue and needs her morning dose of insulin, and who often sings to me in her high, quivery voice.

Fiction book (2001)
She spoke in a quivery voice, revealing her nervousness about the presentation.
His hands were quivery as he prepared to deliver the heartfelt speech.
After climbing the steep hill, I felt quivery from the exertion and excitement.

Synonyms

shaky

vsquivery

59 2.1

Not steady and trembling, often from fear, cold, or tiredness

is a gentler, slight shake rather than broad physical instability

tremulous

vsquivery

4 8.6

A voice that shakes slightly because the person is afraid or nervous

applies more generally to slight bodily shaking rather than voice only

shivering

vsquivery

3 2.2

Trembling a little because of cold, fear, or excitement

is primarily due to emotion or weakness rather than cold response

fluttery

vsquivery

2 4.9

Feeling nervous and excited with a quick, shaky feeling in the body

is a steadier slight trembling not as light or quick in feeling

aquiver

vsquivery

1 9.9

Shaking slightly, often because of excitement or strong feeling

is more linked to weakness or general emotion than eager excitement

trembling

vsquivery

1 2.6

Shaking slightly because you feel afraid, cold, or weak

is a gentler, more controlled slight shaking from emotion or weakness

trembly

vsquivery

1 4.4

Shaking slightly in the hands and voice because of fear or weakness

is caused by general emotion or weakness rather than specific fear

atremble

vsquivery

Archaic

9.8

Shaking because you feel afraid, excited, or cold

is a milder, slight shaking often linked to weakness or feeling

quavery

vsquivery

7.7

Shaky in the voice, often showing nervousness or strong feeling

describes slight bodily trembling rather than voice quality

Antonyms

stable

473 2.3

Not likely to change and stays steady over time

steady

186 1.3

Firm and unlikely to be moved or upset

How Shaky

shuddering

2 5.1

shaky

59 2.1

trembling

1 2.6

quivery

1 5.0

Surface Forms

quivery positive

quiverier comparative

quiveriest superlative

Morphology

quivery = quiver (transparent) = quiver + y

The adjective is directly derived from the verb 'quiver' with the productive adjectival suffix '-y', so the meaning is predictable.

Etymology

The word quivery comes from the verb quiver meaning 'to shake' and the ending -y meaning 'full of'. So something quivery is 'full of' small shakes, like a quivery hand when you are nervous or weak, similar to shiver.