as in tottering
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in faltering
to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side
he nervously teetered at the edge of the pool before finally diving in
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2
as in staggering
to move forward while swaying from side to side
the toddler teetered down the rink in her new ice skates
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3
as in hesitating
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
was teetering on the brink of making a decision about college
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Recent Examples of teetering
Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024
In 2015, Assad’s regime was teetering when Russia intervened to save the dictatorship.
—Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News, 8 Dec. 2024
Hegseth's nomination has been teetering, though, amid a series of revelations about his personal life.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024
Just as Paris’ Notre-Dame cathedral rises from the ashes, France’s government is teetering on the brink of collapse.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 4 Dec. 2024
Like so many other enterprises, Ingersoll was teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, but Mickey saved the day—upon its release, Macy’s sold 11,000 of these cartoon watches.
—Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2024
The result is a system teetering on collapse, where trust in the dollar erodes as global competitors like China siphon soft power away from the United States.
—Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
But the company needed to stage an emergency $350,000 fund drive to make that production possible, and has been teetering financially since 2020, when pandemic shut down its entire season.
—Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2024
But even if Netanyahu was teetering, the political dynamics in Israel were not conducive to any sort of long-term peace with Palestinians.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
Verb
This big band take of a song already teetering on irredeemable absurdity, wants to be lush and seductive.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024
In 2015, Assad’s regime was teetering when Russia intervened to save the dictatorship.
—Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News, 8 Dec. 2024
Hegseth's nomination has been teetering, though, amid a series of revelations about his personal life.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024
Just as Paris’ Notre-Dame cathedral rises from the ashes, France’s government is teetering on the brink of collapse.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 4 Dec. 2024
Like so many other enterprises, Ingersoll was teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, but Mickey saved the day—upon its release, Macy’s sold 11,000 of these cartoon watches.
—Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2024
The result is a system teetering on collapse, where trust in the dollar erodes as global competitors like China siphon soft power away from the United States.
—Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
But the company needed to stage an emergency $350,000 fund drive to make that production possible, and has been teetering financially since 2020, when pandemic shut down its entire season.
—Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2024
But even if Netanyahu was teetering, the political dynamics in Israel were not conducive to any sort of long-term peace with Palestinians.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teetering
Adjective
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Griff's was a cozy space inside with a small, rickety wooden patio in the front and a larger one in the back.Brianna Griff, Chron, 13 Jan. 2023
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Instead of rickety outdoor patios with plastic partitions, diners mostly ate in dining rooms.Nick Kindelsperger, Chicago Tribune, 28 Dec. 2022
Adjective
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The Yellowstone ranch, the single most important thing in the world of this show, has never been in a more precarious position.Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2024
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In the ever more precarious House, Republicans will have to avoid any defections until special elections replace the members joining the Trump administration.Matthew Continetti, National Review, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Once upon a time, a doddering old man spoke of a dream about a united city in this empire’s capital, where every man, woman, and child could walk its streets and live a good life regardless of their patrician or plebeian birthright.David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2024
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That’s when Broadbent’s whimsical eyes take over, splitting the difference between doddering old coot and magical elf.Katie Rife, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Strong to very strong shaking was felt near the earthquake's epicenter, according to a USGS intensity map, with Carson City and Reno seeing light to moderate shaking.Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024
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Venus in Aquarius, in the meantime, is shaking things up in your third house of communication, sparking some strange conversations with siblings, close friends or perhaps over social media.Valerie Mesa, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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While most companies claim to be customer centric, few practice discipline around weaving customer centricity into the fabric of the organization.Camille Nicita, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
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Masterfully weaving all these strands together, Kushner has crafted another fine and engrossing piece of journalism.Chris Wheatley, Longreads, 3 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near teetering
Cite this Entry
“Teetering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teetering. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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