as in overwhelmed
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
1
as in lurched
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
2
as in hesitated
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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of staggered
Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
The staggered timing reflects banking practices, rather than differences in payroll.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
The group assembles in a staggered formation and uses hand signals to communicate road hazards and turns.
—Brenda Miranda, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
At the peak of their global dominance, the group’s members began mandatory military service in South Korea, rolling out solo projects on a staggered schedule.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 21 Mar. 2026
The force includes contingents from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Oklahoma, with units rotating in and out of the District on staggered timelines.
—Steven Beynon, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
Richardson created a staggered evergreen screen of Arborvitae, hydrangea, Karl Foerster grass, and flowering accent trees.
—Megan Johnson, Architectural Digest, 12 Mar. 2026
The next day at La Belle Helene, former competitor Jamie Lynch’s Charlotte restaurant, the chefs cook on a staggered schedule to serve their potato dishes, and almost immediately, Day and Nana are in trouble.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
Start planting seeds after the last frost on a staggered schedule, and enjoy the cheery flowers all summer long.
—Michelle Darrisaw, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2026
Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Apr. 2026
Plus, the Herro and Powell minutes likely will continue to be as staggered as when one started and one played in reserve, with Herro subbed out midway through Wednesday night’s first quarter.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
He looks staggered at first, then disgusted, and, finally, proud.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
The seasons are staggered between zones to capture the hunting opportunity from migration, with the South Zone ending latest.
—Matt Wyatt, Houston Chronicle, 23 Mar. 2026
Jamal Murray and Cam Johnson staggered with the unit.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Mar. 2026
David staggered off and collapsed on the sidewalk, videos played this week showed.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2026
Shortly afterward, the members staggered their enlistments in the military to carry out their mandatory service periods while working on solo projects as well.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 19 Mar. 2026
When Camus first imagined great replacement theory in Hérault on the eve of the twenty-first century, his conspiracy theory staggered around the fringes of global politics.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The Social Security Administration (SSA) distributes payments on a staggered schedule throughout each month rather than sending them all at once.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
The staggered timing reflects banking practices, rather than differences in payroll.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
The group assembles in a staggered formation and uses hand signals to communicate road hazards and turns.
—Brenda Miranda, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
At the peak of their global dominance, the group’s members began mandatory military service in South Korea, rolling out solo projects on a staggered schedule.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 21 Mar. 2026
The force includes contingents from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Oklahoma, with units rotating in and out of the District on staggered timelines.
—Steven Beynon, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
Richardson created a staggered evergreen screen of Arborvitae, hydrangea, Karl Foerster grass, and flowering accent trees.
—Megan Johnson, Architectural Digest, 12 Mar. 2026
The next day at La Belle Helene, former competitor Jamie Lynch’s Charlotte restaurant, the chefs cook on a staggered schedule to serve their potato dishes, and almost immediately, Day and Nana are in trouble.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
Start planting seeds after the last frost on a staggered schedule, and enjoy the cheery flowers all summer long.
—Michelle Darrisaw, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2026
Verb
Hunt times are staggered according to age groups.
—Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Apr. 2026
Plus, the Herro and Powell minutes likely will continue to be as staggered as when one started and one played in reserve, with Herro subbed out midway through Wednesday night’s first quarter.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
He looks staggered at first, then disgusted, and, finally, proud.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
The seasons are staggered between zones to capture the hunting opportunity from migration, with the South Zone ending latest.
—Matt Wyatt, Houston Chronicle, 23 Mar. 2026
Jamal Murray and Cam Johnson staggered with the unit.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Mar. 2026
David staggered off and collapsed on the sidewalk, videos played this week showed.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2026
Shortly afterward, the members staggered their enlistments in the military to carry out their mandatory service periods while working on solo projects as well.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 19 Mar. 2026
When Camus first imagined great replacement theory in Hérault on the eve of the twenty-first century, his conspiracy theory staggered around the fringes of global politics.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staggered
Adjective
-
That operation began on October 29, 1956, when Israel invaded the Sinai Peninsula and rapidly overwhelmed Egyptian forces.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
What child care looks like in Texas The Texas child care subsidy program is notoriously overwhelmed.—
Jess Huff,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Since then, the larger culture has lurched rightward, with big corporations abandoning progressive signaling in favor of…other priorities.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Over the course of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s term, CPS has lurched from budget crisis to budget crisis, able only to muddle through due to record-breaking mayoral declarations of tax-increment-financing surpluses.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
From coordinating painting, flooring and cabinet removal to troubleshooting daily obstacles during the summer, Higman answered every call, provided solutions and never hesitated to step in, according to Filamor.—
Cyril A. Reinicke,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Allies, too, have hesitated to turn to force to reopen the strait.—
Vivian Salama,
The Atlantic,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
There was no punchline, no twist — just the straightforward, slightly bewildered observation that someone, somewhere, had performed surgery on a grape.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Exasperated, bewildered, and realizing other musicians were also dealing with this, Bender came up with a way to show just how porous the system was.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Washington led 111-106 with 6 1/2 minutes remaining, but the Wizards defense faltered after that.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Fland’s defense — his calling card — faltered on the decisive play.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Video of Raftery's stunned reaction to the scene on the court quickly went viral on social media, which promptly delivered jokes about the 82-year-old's potential demise.—
Andrew McCarty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The unexpected guest drew a stunned silence from attendees, with many snapping photos.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Royals shuffled their outfield this offseason.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The living room has been moved to the second floor in the plans and other rooms were shuffled around, though the project’s size and general design remain roughly the same.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Giddey gave a bemused nod, then a smile.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
-
That was John’s thing, back then, but leave it to both Beatles to have a bemused sense of class consciousness.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Staggered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staggered. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
