1
as in to stagger
to move forward while swaying from side to side
tottered around the house as she practiced walking in high heels
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to falter
to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side
the figurine tottered precariously for a moment before falling off the shelf
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of totter
America was full of hope, tottering hastily toward a technological age filled with grand expectations for the future.
—
Ruby Thélot, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2024
What even is progressivism? Famous for being a pioneer of progressive political discourse, San Francisco has in recent years tottered toward the center.
—Defne Karabatur, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024
The Vodafone Japan deal, on the other hand, was executed at a time when SoftBank was tottering, required extraordinary chutzpah, flawless execution and a ton of cash.
—Alok Sama, Fortune Asia, 17 Sep. 2024
Gorbachev was desperate to ease the burden of the arms race on his tottering communist system, and Reagan had long harbored an ambition to abolish nuclear weapons altogether.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 17 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for totter
Ruby Thélot, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2024
What even is progressivism? Famous for being a pioneer of progressive political discourse, San Francisco has in recent years tottered toward the center.
—Defne Karabatur, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024
The Vodafone Japan deal, on the other hand, was executed at a time when SoftBank was tottering, required extraordinary chutzpah, flawless execution and a ton of cash.
—Alok Sama, Fortune Asia, 17 Sep. 2024
Gorbachev was desperate to ease the burden of the arms race on his tottering communist system, and Reagan had long harbored an ambition to abolish nuclear weapons altogether.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 17 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for totter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for totter
Verb
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As minutes get staggered, being able to anchor a second unit and help out the starters while also on the court matters.—
Zach Harper,
The Athletic,
20 Feb. 2025
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As the bullet smashed into it the animal staggered, but came right on.—
Tom Stacer,
Outdoor Life,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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If Maeda were to falter this spring, a role stashed away in the bullpen could be possible.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
The Athletic,
22 Feb. 2025
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Senate leaders chose to plow ahead with their budget plan even after Mr. Trump endorsed the House’s one-big-bill approach on Wednesday, characterizing their measure as a fail-safe should the House falter.—
Catie Edmondson,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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For the 80 people on board the flight from Minneapolis, the world lurched immediately after the wheels hit the ground.—
Vjosa Isai,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2025
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Fritz revved the engine, a desperate, needling whine, and the vessel lurched down the airstrip, the chute billowing awake behind him.—
Nick Paumgarten,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
Verb
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There were towering Great Danes, tiny, trembling Chihuahuas, and every shape of fluff in between.—
Savannah White,
Glamour,
18 Feb. 2025
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The ground would tremble now as a 110-ton launcher closure door opens and the engine ignites.—
Alfredo Sosa,
The Christian Science Monitor,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Even as Nvidia is raking in revenue and Big Tech is powering ahead with capex, confidence in the U.S. economy seems to be wobbling slightly.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
27 Feb. 2025
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Early into the second half, as Liverpool began to wobble, Marshall Munetsi, making his Premier League debut for Wolves as a second-half substitute, was slipped clear with a pass behind the home defence.—
Gregg Evans,
The Athletic,
16 Feb. 2025
Verb
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However, the partnership ended in early 2025, just weeks before this heist shook the crypto sphere.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
22 Feb. 2025
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But shake off the stress because there are bountiful touch-up options on the market to conceal any unwanted color (or lack thereof).—
Deanna Pai,
Allure,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Florida's southwest waterways are being rocked by red tide and a separate toxic algae bloom, which is believed to be linked to discharge from Lake Okeechobee.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
17 Feb. 2025
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Singapore, usually an oasis of stability, has been rocked by a series of political scandals in the past two years.—
Nicholas Yong,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Totter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/totter. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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