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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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
Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
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
Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026
For when the cast and crew’s energy is wavering.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 25 Apr. 2026
That’s why – so far, at least – Iran isn’t wavering.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2026
After three years of waiting, wavering and wondering, that’s precisely what happened.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2026
For locals, however, the focus has been on quickly picking up the pieces, without wavering in their welcoming spirit.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2026
Despite some online commentators with large followings publicly disagreeing with the president's decision—and many legacy media outlets eagerly highlighting their comments to try and sow division—the MAGA base is not wavering one bit.
—Sam Stevenson, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
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
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
One night, Altman took an Ambien, only to be awakened by his husband, an Australian coder named Oliver Mulherin, who told him that Sutskever was wavering, and that people were telling Altman to speak with the board.
—Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
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
Verb
Sheehan gave up four runs in 4 2/3 innings Friday, his velocity wavering as his delivery fell out of sync.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026
For when the cast and crew’s energy is wavering.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 25 Apr. 2026
That’s why – so far, at least – Iran isn’t wavering.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2026
After three years of waiting, wavering and wondering, that’s precisely what happened.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2026
For locals, however, the focus has been on quickly picking up the pieces, without wavering in their welcoming spirit.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2026
Despite some online commentators with large followings publicly disagreeing with the president's decision—and many legacy media outlets eagerly highlighting their comments to try and sow division—the MAGA base is not wavering one bit.
—Sam Stevenson, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wavering
Noun
-
From Bugenhagen’s perspective, these patterns contribute to hesitation and uncertainty, particularly for individuals seeking long-term relationships, as the process becomes less about connection and more about verification.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
-
Neighbors concerned homes will ‘dominate’ district Homeowners around the Whitewater lot had their own hesitations about the plan.—
Mark Dee
May 6,
Idaho Statesman,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
The team now plans to further refine the method for broader industrial applications where robots must operate under uncertain or changing conditions.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
-
In March, Beijing set its lowest growth target in decades, as the world’s second-largest economy grapples with weak domestic demand and an uncertain global outlook.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Right now, Taylor said, both sides are hesitating.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
Walgreens isn’t hesitating to close stores in parts of Chicago where theft is frequent and there are legitimate concerns about the safety of employees and customers.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, the company that made their name keeps faltering towards the point of no return.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
6 May 2026
-
Most of that was driven by faltering corporation tax receipts.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
The decline in vitamin K uptake is still believed to be related to vaccine and medicine hesitancy, according to both the JAMA study and ProPublica investigation.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
This hesitancy and worry about speaking up is the way free speech dies.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 May 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
-
After a pause for the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, social hesitance was still evident and masks were incorporated into some of the night's designs.—
Luis Giraldo,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
-
Sensing hesitance as well as incompetence, coaches and players alike tried to sway the flailing fill-ins at every turn.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Like many students, Headley is now left in limbo, unsure how finals will be submitted or graded.—
Tori Mason,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
-
The Mets are unsure if his hip led to decreased velocity.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wavering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wavering. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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