shakily

8 3.9

To speak or move in a trembling, unsteady way

adverb
/ˈʃeɪkɪli/

: temblorosamente

She stood up shakily, feeling the effects of her long illness, but determined to keep going.

Some hands are sort of shakily going up, but it's, it's actually, it's actually very rare for that conversation to happen.

Examples

Esther released her breath shakily and felt Mack shift next to her.

Fiction book (1996)
An old man with a cane is walking shakily towards the bank.

Fiction book (2001)
Until that moment he entered her bedroom, he had been in control, sometimes shakily, of his life.

Academic text (1994)
Walker almost falls but manages to step shakily toward the door.

Fiction book (1998)
"Nice to meet you," pale Adam says, shakily extending a hand, really an excuse of a hand to her.

Fiction book (1995)
The priest opened his pack a little shakily and took out a metal mug.

Fiction book (1990)
Rachel knelt by Mary and said shakily, "You can let go of them now."

Fiction book (1990)
I nodded to it and muttered shakily, "You and me against the world."

Fiction book (1990)
Cara gathered herself and stood up, too, and made her way shakily toward the waiting room and Douglas.

Fiction book (1993)
Picking herself up shakily, she took out her rechargeable flashlight and examined her surroundings.

Fiction book (1996)

Synonyms

tremblingly

vsshakily

1 5.8

In a way that shows shaking from fear, cold, or weakness

includes uncertainty as an additional common cause

shakingly

vsshakily

5.2

Your hands or body move because you feel afraid

is the same meaning but is an alternate adverb form

waveringly

vsshakily

7.5

With an unsteady, unsure voice or movement that shows doubt

is more physical, caused by fear, weakness, or uncertainty

quaveringly

vsshakily

8.6

In a trembling voice because of fear or strong feeling

includes other causes like fear, cold, or uncertainty

quiveringly

vsshakily

8.2

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

is generally stronger rather than only a slight movement

shiveringly

vsshakily

7.2

In a way that makes someone shake from cold or fear

is broader, also including weakness and uncertainty causes

shudderingly

vsshakily

8.8

In a way that makes someone shiver from fear or disgust

is less about disgust and more about general unsteadiness

twitchily

vsshakily

7.0

In a nervous way with small quick movements

is unsteady in a general way rather than quick jerks

Antonyms

steadily

129 2.1

In a regular way without stopping

confidently

36 2.9

In a way that shows a person is sure and not afraid

How Shaky

unsteadily

7 3.9

tremblingly

1 5.8

shakily

8 3.9

steadily

129 2.1

firmly

125 1.0

Surface Forms

shakily positive

Morphology

shakily = shaky (transparent) = shaky + ly

Standard formation from the adjective 'shaky' to the adverb with '-ly'; meaning is directly predictable from the base.

Etymology

Shakily comes from the simple verb shake, which means 'to move quickly back and forth' or 'to tremble', plus the little ending -ly that makes it mean 'in a ... way'. So, to do something shakily is to do it with trembling or in an unsteady way.