1
as in faltered
to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side
he nervously teetered at the edge of the pool before finally diving in
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in lurched
to move forward while swaying from side to side
the toddler teetered down the rink in her new ice skates
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in hesitated
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
was teetering on the brink of making a decision about college
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of teetered
Violeta was on her mobility scooter, and Julia teetered on Jay’s arm.
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Bridget Read, Curbed, 18 Dec. 2024
Violeta’s mobility scooter teetered precariously on the roof.
—Bridget Read, Curbed, 18 Dec. 2024
Gabby Barrett also teetered on the line, with plans to double down even further.
—Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2024
The Aggies have long teetered on the tipping point of college football’s top subdivision, eschewing pressures over the years to call it a day and drop down to FCS.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2019
In some places, homes teetered on hillsides and washed-out riverbanks.
—Jeff Amy, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024
In some places, homes teetered on hillsides and riverbanks that had been washed away.
—Jeff Amy, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2024
Bridget Read, Curbed, 18 Dec. 2024
Violeta’s mobility scooter teetered precariously on the roof.
—Bridget Read, Curbed, 18 Dec. 2024
Gabby Barrett also teetered on the line, with plans to double down even further.
—Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2024
The Aggies have long teetered on the tipping point of college football’s top subdivision, eschewing pressures over the years to call it a day and drop down to FCS.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2019
In some places, homes teetered on hillsides and washed-out riverbanks.
—Jeff Amy, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024
In some places, homes teetered on hillsides and riverbanks that had been washed away.
—Jeff Amy, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teetered
Verb
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Beyond Big Pharma As obesity drug stocks faltered, the other side of the weight loss drug trade has rebounded.Christina Cheddar Berk, CNBC, 23 Dec. 2024
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Long the top-selling Chinese carmaker in Europe, the once-British sportscar brand has faltered recently, logging a 58% drop in registrations last month from a year earlier, based on data provided by Jato Dynamics, another research firm.Kristine Gill, Fortune Asia, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Shelter volunteer Julie Saraceno shared the bittersweet moment Russell hesitated at the shelter's front door, seemingly realizing his adventure had come to an end.David Faris, Newsweek, 28 Dec. 2024
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Bangladeshis haven’t hesitated to weigh in, writing hundreds of emails saying that anyone running for office must meet certain educational thresholds.Saif Hasnat Atul Loke, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Initially convinced that Sheri had been abducted, the two staggered onto a nearby highway and flagged down a car for help.Johnny Dodd, People.com, 21 Dec. 2024
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The collapse of the Assad Regime in Syria is the latest in a series of political and military defeats that have staggered the Kremlin.Daniel Markind, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Richard Arnold, the chief executive whose departure had already been announced, went round the room and shook everyone’s hand, expressing his belief the future at United would be bright.Adam Crafton, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024
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The camera then cut to Johansson, who shook her head while grimacing.Toria Sheffield, People.com, 22 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near teetered
Cite this Entry
“Teetered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teetered. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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