faltering 1 of 3

noun

Definition of falteringnext
as in hesitation
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action when it's so clear that this is the right thing to do, there's no excuse for faltering

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

faltering

2 of 3

adjective

as in wobbly

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

faltering

3 of 3

verb

present participle of falter
1
as in hesitating
to show uncertainty about the right course of action William Lloyd Garrison never once faltered in his demand that slavery be unconditionally abolished

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in trembling
to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side the cut tree seemed to falter for a moment before crashing to the ground

Synonyms & Similar Words

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for faltering
  1. hesitation
  2. pause
  3. uncertain
  4. hesitancy
  5. unsure
  6. shaking
  7. hesitance
  8. irresolute
Noun
  • For example, a financial services organization rolling out a new product and working to generate sales using only CRM data might overlook early signs of buyer hesitation.
    Eilon Reshef, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
  • The common signs of vision loss include bumping into objects, difficulty finding food or toys, hesitation with jumping, anxiety, clinginess, or even aggression due to vulnerability.
    Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
Definition of hesitation
Noun
  • The previous agreement, in November 2023, furnished only a pause.
    Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 16 Jan. 2025
  • High-profile premieres have been canceled, and the city’s once-bustling red carpets are now on pause.
    Shelby Stewart, Essence, 16 Jan. 2025
Definition of pause
Adjective
  • Lee’s storied Bay Area political career took an uncertain turn after Lee ran unsuccessfully in 2024 for the U.S. Senate, finishing fourth in the March primary against fellow Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff, who won in the November election.
    Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Lives unfold and unravel as the uncertain human beings wonder whether the whales will ever return.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2025
Definition of uncertain
Noun
  • The actor also supported Chalamet’s hesitancy to disclose details about the transformation.
    Julie Jordan, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024
  • Even following such an uplifting and dominant win, Newcastle’s baffling, up-and-down campaign demands such hesitancy.
    Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
Definition of hesitancy
Adjective
  • What the market is unsure about is how the impending policy mix of tariffs, immigration restrictions and deregulation will alter this interplay of rates, inflation, GDP growth and risk appetites.
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 11 Jan. 2025
  • When asked by this news organization her thoughts on the possible $1.35 million in cuts to police services, police Chief Tracy Avelar was unsure of what the future could hold.
    Kyle Martin, The Mercury News, 10 Jan. 2025
Definition of unsure
Verb
  • Symptoms like a fast heart rate, or shortness of breath, shaking and chills, confusion or lethargy.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
  • In the video, a terrified Archie can be seen frozen, staring and shaking.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of shaking
Noun
  • Sahar Abi-Hassan, an assistant professor in political science at Northeastern University who studies the behavior of the Supreme Court, says the court might side with TikTok for several reasons, including its historical hesitance toward restricting speech.
    Lauren Feiner, The Verge, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Still, Zhu’s hesitance to speak about Shein’s exposure to Xinjiang at the hearing might have been born of pragmatic reasons, or perhaps even strategic ones.
    Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 7 Jan. 2025
Definition of hesitance
Adjective
  • The prevailing sense among investors and market handicappers entering the month was to expect choppy, irresolute action full of potential scares.
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2024
  • Showing signs of being irresolute can signal weakness that adversaries take note of.
    Michael Poznansky, Foreign Affairs, 5 Jan. 2024
Definition of irresolute
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near faltering

faltered

faltering

falteringly

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Cite this Entry

“Faltering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faltering. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on faltering

Nglish: Translation of faltering for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of faltering for Arabic Speakers

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