shakily
Definition
- Adverb:
- In a trembling or shaking manner: Describes an action performed with unsteady, quivering movements, often due to fear, weakness, or strong emotion.
- In an insecure, unstable, or uncertain manner: Describes something done with a lack of firmness, confidence, or solid support.
Usage Examples
- Adverb (Trembling manner):
- She held out the letter shakily, her hands trembling.
- "I think I saw something," he said shakily.
- Adverb (Insecure/uncertain manner):
- The old bridge was shakily constructed from rope and wood.
- He stood up shakily after the long illness.
Advanced Usage
- "to be shakily established": to be founded on an unstable or uncertain basis.
- The company's financial future was shakily established on a single contract.
- "to proceed shakily": to move forward in an unsteady or hesitant way.
- The negotiations proceeded shakily, with frequent disagreements.
Variants and Related Words
- Shaky (adj): unsteady, trembling, or not firm.
- He has a shaky voice when he's nervous.
- The table is shaky; one leg is loose.
- Shakiness (n): the state or quality of being shaky.
- The shakiness in her hands was a side effect of the medicine.
Synonyms
- Unsteadily: In a not firm or stable way.
- Tremulously: In a trembling or quivering way, often from nervousness.
- Insecurely: In a manner not firmly fixed or likely to fail.
Antonyms
- Steadily: In a firm, stable, and regular manner.
- Confidently: In a sure and self-assured manner.
- Securely: In a fixed, firm, and safe manner.
Related Phrases
- On shaky ground: In an uncertain or vulnerable position.
- His argument is on shaky ground because the evidence is weak.
- A shaky start: A beginning that is uncertain, unstable, or not smooth.
- The project got off to a shaky start, but later became very successful.
Adverb
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in a manner characterized by trembling or shaking
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`I--I'm going to make you a cup of tea', she explained shakily
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in an insecurely shaky manner
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this theory is rather shakily supported by some obscure data
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