trembler
/'tremblə/
Definition
- Noun:
- One who quakes and trembles with (or as with) fear: A person who shakes involuntarily, typically due to fear, anxiety, or nervousness.
- A timid or fearful person: Someone who is easily frightened or lacks courage.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The loud thunder turned the brave explorer into a mere trembler.
- She was known as a trembler, always anxious before a big presentation.
Advanced Usage
- As a metaphorical descriptor: Can be used to describe someone who is emotionally or psychologically unstable in the face of pressure.
- In the high-stakes world of finance, he was no trembler, but the recent market crash tested his nerves.
Variants and Related Words
- Tremble (verb): To shake involuntarily, typically from fear, excitement, or cold.
- Her voice began to tremble as she spoke about the accident.
- Trembling (noun/adj): The action or state of shaking; characterized by shakes.
- He tried to hide the trembling in his hands.
Synonyms
- Coward: A person who lacks the courage to face danger or pain.
- Nervous wreck: A person who is extremely anxious or stressed.
- Shaker: One who shakes (though less specific to fear).
Related Phrases
- To shake like a leaf: To tremble violently with fear or nervousness.
- Waiting for the interview, he was shaking like a leaf.
Notes on Meaning
The term "trembler" is relatively uncommon in modern everyday English. It is more literary or descriptive. In technical contexts (e.g., electricity), a "trembler" can refer to a component like a trembler bell, but this is a compound usage and not the primary meaning of the isolated word. The core meaning focuses on a person exhibiting physical tremors due to an emotional state.
Noun
-
one who quakes and trembles with (or as with) fear