1
as in to lurch
to move forward while swaying from side to side
I was so tired last night that I just staggered upstairs to bed without eating dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to falter
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
a daunting problem that would make even the most decisive person stagger just a bit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of stagger
As voting hours are staggered across the second largest country in the world, the real indication could be clear much earlier as Ontario and Quebec vote.
—
Dominic Patten, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2025
However, a short right hook, one of the nine significant strikes Dos Santos landed in the first round, staggered his opponent.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Even then, this was staggered, with First Division clubs subject to the Green Guide from 1976 onwards and the rest three years later.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 10 May 2025
That’s because there are actually 15 different broods at large, 12 of them observing a 17-year schedule and three making their appearance every 13 years—and the broods’ emergences are staggered.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stagger
Dominic Patten, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2025
However, a short right hook, one of the nine significant strikes Dos Santos landed in the first round, staggered his opponent.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Even then, this was staggered, with First Division clubs subject to the Green Guide from 1976 onwards and the rest three years later.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 10 May 2025
That’s because there are actually 15 different broods at large, 12 of them observing a 17-year schedule and three making their appearance every 13 years—and the broods’ emergences are staggered.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stagger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stagger
Verb
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Juventus are lurching from one coach to the next with no real vision for the future, while the once-mighty AC Milan will miss out on Europe altogether next season and the likes of Fiorentina, Torino and Parma – all having won major trophies in the past – are shadows of their former selves.—
Adam Digby,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
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Wednesday’s primetime debate between the leaders of the five main political parties in the Great North has changed its start time to avoid clashing with a hockey game that could lurch the Montreal Canadiens into this year’s NHL playoffs.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
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If trade negotiations falter, these tariffs could take effect, potentially igniting a trade war and unsettling global markets.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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But after a flagrant foul by Clark against Reese on Saturday, all the prior talk from each athlete about a lack of a rivalry seemed to falter.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
28 May 2025
Verb
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Dina Tomczak, the school’s athletic director, tottered into her office having barely slept.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
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The nation is tottering on the edge of dictatorship.—
Robert B. Reich,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Marsch didn’t hesitate to call on the 21-year-old to replace Davies in March.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
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Don’t hesitate to make the most of this energy by planning a fun night out with friends or a romantic evening with your crush.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
20 May 2025
Verb
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The latest installment, Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning, which hit theaters on May 23, continues the story set up in 2023's Dead Reckoning, weaving together elements from the previous seven films, for what is possibly the last Mission: Impossible movie.—
Christopher Rudolph,
People.com,
23 May 2025
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The Shed describes The Brothers Size as a modern-day fable about two brothers in the Deep South that weaves in the rich storytelling tradition of the Yoruba people of West Africa.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
21 May 2025
Verb
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Per a fan video, at one point during the show, after spinning his microphone and tossing it towards the audience, Joel appeared to stumble, falling backwards and landing on his side.—
Marina Watts,
People.com,
23 May 2025
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No one stumbled into creating a billion dollar company, gingerly broke a world record, or cautiously planned and lived their peak life.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Fold the top edge of the towel down and roll it tightly halfway down the towel.—
Veronica Bravo,
USA Today,
20 May 2025
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With 4:38 remaining in the third quarter and the Fever up 56-42, Reese claimed an offensive rebound and was driving towards the basket when Indiana star Caitlin Clark made hard contact with her right arm, knocking the Sky forward to the ground and sending the ball rolling away.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
19 May 2025
Verb
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The team then trained three seals–Nick, Luca, and Miro–to shuffle into place in front of a large screen and showed them the simulations.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
29 May 2025
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The next generation's most exciting opportunities won't be found in shuffling digital information but in reimagining the physical world.—
Richard Lebovitz,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stagger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stagger. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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