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
as in wobbly
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Dissimilar Words
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of faltering
Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
The Reds' season can be described as consistently inconsistent but playing well down the stretch and the New York Mets faltering has led to an opportunity to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2020.
—Jason Hoffman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Sep. 2025
And the media went along with her coverup, despite Biden’s obvious faltering.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 7 Aug. 2025
Francesca Cassidy, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
That deal can't come soon enough for the president, as there are worrisome signs about the overall economy faltering due to the war, and even some Republicans are questioning his mission in the Middle East.
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
One of the best trades of the past year is faltering.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
Plus, home shoppers are more cautious given a faltering job market and growing economic uncertainty, meaning fewer homes are being snapped up quickly, Fairweather said.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
Mueller did not see it as his job to speak out—not then, nor in his notoriously faltering testimony to Congress months later.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Afeela is entering the market at a time when federal support for EVs is low and public enthusiasm is faltering.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
That change eventually happened in the technical area, with Igor Tudor replacing Frank, but the coach with a reputation for breathing new life into faltering clubs on the continent is having no such impact in north London.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
First-time nominee Jordan could ride this wave in a now wide-open Best Actor race, as Timothée Chalamet has been faltering.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 2 Mar. 2026
Zach Harper, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Now, as the conflict has shown signs of widening to other countries, including Lebanon and Bahrain, traditional safe-haven assets are showing signs of faltering.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
Even if things don’t go exactly as planned, you’re braced to make any necessary adjustments without faltering.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 23 Feb. 2026
Unless regulators crack down on these deepfakes, the videos threaten to steer even more patients toward wasteful, potentially dangerous purchases — while further undermining the public’s already faltering trust in medical institutions.
—John Whyte, STAT, 17 Feb. 2026
The program also pledges to fulfill conditions for adopting the euro currency by 2030, and to invest in Hungary's faltering state health care and public transportation sectors.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Feb. 2026
Another cousin, the son of my industrialist uncle, has given up regattas and the hedonist’s life for a position in his father’s company that is, like all companies in Turkey, faltering under the tremendous burden of an economy in tailspin.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
Tesla reported its first-ever decline in annual revenue, with sales faltering across three of the past four quarters.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 29 Jan. 2026
Darnold has also found some big-game redemption after faltering for the Minnesota Vikings late in the season last year.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Noun
Many in town say the struggle to transform Scotia mirrors a larger struggle in Humboldt County, which has been rocked, first by the faltering of its logging industry and more recently by the collapse of its cannabis economy.
—Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
The Reds' season can be described as consistently inconsistent but playing well down the stretch and the New York Mets faltering has led to an opportunity to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2020.
—Jason Hoffman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Sep. 2025
And the media went along with her coverup, despite Biden’s obvious faltering.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Draghi’s report highlights several reasons why Europe’s competitiveness is faltering.
—Francesca Cassidy, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
That deal can't come soon enough for the president, as there are worrisome signs about the overall economy faltering due to the war, and even some Republicans are questioning his mission in the Middle East.
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
One of the best trades of the past year is faltering.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
Plus, home shoppers are more cautious given a faltering job market and growing economic uncertainty, meaning fewer homes are being snapped up quickly, Fairweather said.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
Mueller did not see it as his job to speak out—not then, nor in his notoriously faltering testimony to Congress months later.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Afeela is entering the market at a time when federal support for EVs is low and public enthusiasm is faltering.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
That change eventually happened in the technical area, with Igor Tudor replacing Frank, but the coach with a reputation for breathing new life into faltering clubs on the continent is having no such impact in north London.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
First-time nominee Jordan could ride this wave in a now wide-open Best Actor race, as Timothée Chalamet has been faltering.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 2 Mar. 2026
Verb
Tatum’s injury was supposed to be a big reason the conference was so wide-open, along with the Indiana Pacers faltering because of Tyrese Haliburton’s own Achilles injury.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Now, as the conflict has shown signs of widening to other countries, including Lebanon and Bahrain, traditional safe-haven assets are showing signs of faltering.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
Even if things don’t go exactly as planned, you’re braced to make any necessary adjustments without faltering.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 23 Feb. 2026
Unless regulators crack down on these deepfakes, the videos threaten to steer even more patients toward wasteful, potentially dangerous purchases — while further undermining the public’s already faltering trust in medical institutions.
—John Whyte, STAT, 17 Feb. 2026
The program also pledges to fulfill conditions for adopting the euro currency by 2030, and to invest in Hungary's faltering state health care and public transportation sectors.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Feb. 2026
Another cousin, the son of my industrialist uncle, has given up regattas and the hedonist’s life for a position in his father’s company that is, like all companies in Turkey, faltering under the tremendous burden of an economy in tailspin.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
Tesla reported its first-ever decline in annual revenue, with sales faltering across three of the past four quarters.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 29 Jan. 2026
Darnold has also found some big-game redemption after faltering for the Minnesota Vikings late in the season last year.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faltering
Noun
-
Connecticut students should not lose access to meaningful support because of hesitation.—
Christopher P. DeSanctis,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Mets don’t have any hesitation in letting Benge face lefties, but wanted to keep Robert’s bat in the lineup.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Also helping out on Wednesday were Paul Goldschmidt, who clubbed a three-run homer off George Kirby in the sixth inning, and Ben Rice, who smoked a solo shot in the ninth after and before some wobbly work from Yankees relievers Camilo Doval and David Bednar.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Simple adjustments—such as using non‑slip mats, providing low‑entry litter boxes and creating easy access to food and water—can make daily routines much easier for a wobbly cat.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Academy seems comfortable celebrating individual excellence within horror while hesitating to crown its films as definitive achievements.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Palmer is the center of the film and building the cast around her initially had Riley hesitating.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Billy Randolph had shaped them and how his death had altered their lives, responses came after long pauses and were choked with grief.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated March 27,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
-
But no pause was announced in the overall military campaign.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Traditionally reliant on French institutional funding, the event now confronts an uncertain future as Mali’s military government severs ties with its former colonial overlord.—
Smooth Nzewi,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Security fears If Iran keeps control of the Strait of Hormuz, investors would continue to view the trade chokepoint as dangerous and uncertain.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This is a man who shows up at a bank with two dubious associates — the glowering, hair-trigger Sal (Moss-Bachrach) and, until his stomach gives out, the wobbling hot mess Ray-Ray (Christopher Sears) — and a bunch of guns.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Last October, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ignored complaints from Congress and economists to rush through a $20 billion currency swap with the Central Bank of Argentina, aimed at propping up both the peso and Javier Milei’s wobbling presidency.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
After the Veach interview ended, Schrager talked about Veach’s hesitancy.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
-
That hesitancy drove some of the conspiracy theories about Epstein’s death.—
Erik Ortiz,
NBC news,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Over time, though, the clarity of that governing brand faded as Democrats tried to address too many priorities at once, leaving voters unsure what the party stood for.—
Richard Yanowitch,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The rest were unsure or had no opinion.—
Sean Conlon,Sarah Min,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Faltering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faltering. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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