as in hesitation
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action
after a moment's wavering, she accepted his proposal
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in uncertain
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in hesitating
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
he's still wavering about whether to take the job
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in faltering
to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side
the steel tower wavered for a moment before falling over
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wavering
Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
There would be no wavering of any kind on my part this time.
—Patrick Albanese As Told To Courtney Crowder, Des Moines Register, 22 Mar. 2026
The straight march of the High Street turned wavering and sly.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
In this atmosphere, as ProPublica has reported, there’s been widespread wavering on water fluoridation, even in Michigan, where the treatment debuted more than 80 years ago.
—Anna Clark, CNN Money, 16 Jan. 2026
In this atmosphere, as ProPublica has reported, there’s been widespread wavering on water fluoridation, even in Michigan, where the treatment debuted more than 80 years ago.
—Anna Clark, ProPublica, 14 Jan. 2026
However, the projections being made insinuate some potential wavering on his side.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
This simple step before beginning a project is the easiest way to prevent wavering between keeping an item or discarding it.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2025
In June, Tehran paid the price for wavering, and the United States, for the first time in the nuclear era, struck the nuclear facilities of another state.
—Vipin Narang, Foreign Affairs, 5 Sep. 2025
Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
But by the time the Trojans had gotten into the pressures of February, the optimism was wavering.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 3 Mar. 2026
Rarely wavering and never giving up.
—David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
And while plans in baseball are subject to change, the Tigers do not appear to be wavering, not even after a dramatic turn of events on one of the more noteworthy days in club history.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
In his new role, Jejurikar will be tasked with driving sales performance amid a wavering global market.
—Vogue Business Team, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2025
Stocco said in a wavering voice.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025
Rather than conciliate a wavering citizenry, two years of occupation had instead inspired tens of thousands of other colonists to join the resistance to British rule.
—Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Her question, in Lipe-Smith’s inquisitive piccolo of a voice, is heartbreaking in its blend of straightforwardness and desperate desire, as is her mother’s wavering response.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
Despite the frustration within the Democratic caucus, not every vocally pro-Israel lawmaker is openly wavering on the war powers question.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Still, the market was wavering on whether AI would be the company's friend or foe.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2026
At one vortex, there’s 18th century composer Antonio Salieri, wavering between piety and murderous peevishness.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
The path out of the pending partial shutdown is unclear, with neither side showing much indication of wavering.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2026
There were reports of Palace’s interest in Strand Larsen wavering towards the end of last week, but senior sources at Elland Road, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, never sensed that deal would collapse entirely.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Or, maybe, our first night of vigil for Alex Jeffery Pretti, will be a kind of wavering candlelight in the deep, dark moral and ethical power outage that is America, for so many near and far.
—Ed Bok Lee, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
While our pantries were stocked and our resolutions were made, nearly two weeks in, our resolve may be wavering.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2026
Noun
Throughout it all, Senate Democrats stood united — no wavering, no backing down.
—Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
There would be no wavering of any kind on my part this time.
—Patrick Albanese As Told To Courtney Crowder, Des Moines Register, 22 Mar. 2026
The straight march of the High Street turned wavering and sly.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
In this atmosphere, as ProPublica has reported, there’s been widespread wavering on water fluoridation, even in Michigan, where the treatment debuted more than 80 years ago.
—Anna Clark, CNN Money, 16 Jan. 2026
In this atmosphere, as ProPublica has reported, there’s been widespread wavering on water fluoridation, even in Michigan, where the treatment debuted more than 80 years ago.
—Anna Clark, ProPublica, 14 Jan. 2026
However, the projections being made insinuate some potential wavering on his side.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
This simple step before beginning a project is the easiest way to prevent wavering between keeping an item or discarding it.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2025
In June, Tehran paid the price for wavering, and the United States, for the first time in the nuclear era, struck the nuclear facilities of another state.
—Vipin Narang, Foreign Affairs, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Music is the focal point of each service, with Jeffrey playing guitar and keyboards behind the curtain, singing in a wavering voice reminiscent of Jeff Mangum about the subjects, ideas and feelings that have occupied his mind at various stages of his life.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
But by the time the Trojans had gotten into the pressures of February, the optimism was wavering.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 3 Mar. 2026
Rarely wavering and never giving up.
—David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
And while plans in baseball are subject to change, the Tigers do not appear to be wavering, not even after a dramatic turn of events on one of the more noteworthy days in club history.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
In his new role, Jejurikar will be tasked with driving sales performance amid a wavering global market.
—Vogue Business Team, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2025
Stocco said in a wavering voice.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025
Rather than conciliate a wavering citizenry, two years of occupation had instead inspired tens of thousands of other colonists to join the resistance to British rule.
—Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Her question, in Lipe-Smith’s inquisitive piccolo of a voice, is heartbreaking in its blend of straightforwardness and desperate desire, as is her mother’s wavering response.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
Bolloré and Bonnassies’s arguments are more likely to shore up the faith of wavering believers than to win new converts.
—Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
Despite the frustration within the Democratic caucus, not every vocally pro-Israel lawmaker is openly wavering on the war powers question.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Still, the market was wavering on whether AI would be the company's friend or foe.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2026
At one vortex, there’s 18th century composer Antonio Salieri, wavering between piety and murderous peevishness.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
The path out of the pending partial shutdown is unclear, with neither side showing much indication of wavering.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2026
There were reports of Palace’s interest in Strand Larsen wavering towards the end of last week, but senior sources at Elland Road, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, never sensed that deal would collapse entirely.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Or, maybe, our first night of vigil for Alex Jeffery Pretti, will be a kind of wavering candlelight in the deep, dark moral and ethical power outage that is America, for so many near and far.
—Ed Bok Lee, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
While our pantries were stocked and our resolutions were made, nearly two weeks in, our resolve may be wavering.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wavering
Noun
-
Connecticut students should not lose access to meaningful support because of hesitation.—
Christopher P. DeSanctis,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Mets don’t have any hesitation in letting Benge face lefties, but wanted to keep Robert’s bat in the lineup.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Traditionally reliant on French institutional funding, the event now confronts an uncertain future as Mali’s military government severs ties with its former colonial overlord.—
Smooth Nzewi,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Security fears If Iran keeps control of the Strait of Hormuz, investors would continue to view the trade chokepoint as dangerous and uncertain.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Academy seems comfortable celebrating individual excellence within horror while hesitating to crown its films as definitive achievements.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Palmer is the center of the film and building the cast around her initially had Riley hesitating.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Tatum’s injury was supposed to be a big reason the conference was so wide-open, along with the Indiana Pacers faltering because of Tyrese Haliburton’s own Achilles injury.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Now, as the conflict has shown signs of widening to other countries, including Lebanon and Bahrain, traditional safe-haven assets are showing signs of faltering.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
After the Veach interview ended, Schrager talked about Veach’s hesitancy.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
-
That hesitancy drove some of the conspiracy theories about Epstein’s death.—
Erik Ortiz,
NBC news,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Where Trump is unrelenting and single-minded, the justices have been inconsistent and unpredictable, and therefore appear irresolute.—
Noah Feldman,
Twin Cities,
24 Dec. 2025
-
Downtown, in his studio at the corner of White and Cortlandt Alley, on a Thursday evening in late July, Wyeth sat on his stool and considered the irresolute underpainting on his canvas.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
That likely means there won’t be any hesitance by Stammen to use his higher-leverage relievers today and tomorrow.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
That the Astros even added Vázquez underscores their hesitance to hand César Salazar the backup role, despite Salazar’s familiarity with their pitching staff and strong clubhouse reputation.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Over time, though, the clarity of that governing brand faded as Democrats tried to address too many priorities at once, leaving voters unsure what the party stood for.—
Richard Yanowitch,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The rest were unsure or had no opinion.—
Sean Conlon,Sarah Min,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wavering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wavering. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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