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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of stagger
Jamal Murray, who’s back to staggering with the bench most nights, has found harmony next to Russell Westbrook.
—
Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 26 Dec. 2024
That also staggers James and Hachimura, who is more of a power forward than a small forward positionally and can take on some of the bench scoring the Lakers are losing from Russell’s departure.
—Jovan Buha, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024
Felecia, who returned home to find emergency medical workers swarming her driveway, staggered across the front yard toward her family, uncomprehending.
—Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 29 Dec. 2024
Usyk’s attacking style paid dividends in the ninth round when a combination left Fury staggering around the ring.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stagger 
Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 26 Dec. 2024
That also staggers James and Hachimura, who is more of a power forward than a small forward positionally and can take on some of the bench scoring the Lakers are losing from Russell’s departure.
—Jovan Buha, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024
Felecia, who returned home to find emergency medical workers swarming her driveway, staggered across the front yard toward her family, uncomprehending.
—Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 29 Dec. 2024
Usyk’s attacking style paid dividends in the ninth round when a combination left Fury staggering around the ring.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stagger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stagger
Verb
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Context: Cox, who previously nurtured a profile as a moderate conservative and critic of President-elect Trump, lurched to the political right last year.—
Erin Alberty,
Axios,
14 Jan. 2025
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The departing team rushed out and climbed into the vehicle, which lurched away, vanishing with haste.—
C.J. Chivers Robert Fass Krish Seenivasan Steven Szczesniak,
New York Times,
31 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Her breaking point came during a task that repeatedly pulled the interlocked participants under frigid water: The soggy Sutter faltered when running from the beach with a 30-pound rucksack.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA TODAY,
16 Jan. 2025
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Over the course of the war, ceasefire negotiations have faltered at the eleventh hour on several occasions.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Then there's the small, sweet moments—video of my goddaughter tottering in her first pair of shoes; my cat caught mid-yawn; a selfie of me and my dad on a date to the symphony.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
18 Dec. 2024
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Iraqi state institutions such as these were already tottering, and these actions threaten to erode them further.—
Michael Knights,
Foreign Affairs,
5 June 2023
Verb
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Such tools can be game-changers for individuals who, for any number of deeply human reasons, hesitate to seek care.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
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But in a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal , Warren Buffett’s middle child Howard, who will eventually become Berkshire’s nonexecutive chairman, hesitated when asked about Berkshire’s future dividend policy.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
19 Jan. 2025
Verb
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This red could not be more luscious, with ribbons of bright strawberry woven through the darker auburn base, catching the light from all those flashing cameras.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
24 Jan. 2025
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This Amberly Woven Placemat woven from abaca fibers and this Bistrot Teak Flatware instantly elevates your table.—
Sydney Wingfield,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Both players refused to release the ball in an epic battle for possession, the players stumbling toward the TCU student section.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
23 Jan. 2025
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Matthias Schmidt, founder of Schmidt Automotive Research, said BYD’s plans for Germany have stumbled as EV sales slumped after government incentives were removed.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Paul and Gauff then kept the American mojo rolling even further, winning their fourth-round matches over Alexander Davidovich Fokina and Belinda Bencic.—
Matthew Futterman,
The Athletic,
19 Jan. 2025
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The company has tested extending the limit to as much as 10 minutes but has held off on rolling that out, leaving the ability to post long videos to non-Reels posts.—
Wes Davis,
The Verge,
18 Jan. 2025
Verb
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As he’s been awaiting trial in Charlotte since his arrest in 2012 on a first-degree murder charge, Perkins has been shuffled between the Mecklenburg County jail, Broughton Hospital, Central Prison, and Central Regional Hospital dozens of times.—
Kallie Cox,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Jan. 2025
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His defensive concentration — happy to shuffle players out wide and contain them in one-v-one duels — makes Reis an interesting potential option as a right-back for Guardiola, who often opts for four centre-backs across the defence.—
Thom Harris,
The Athletic,
15 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near stagger
Cite this Entry
“Stagger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stagger. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
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