1
as in to hesitate
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
William Lloyd Garrison never once faltered in his demand that slavery be unconditionally abolished
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to tremble
to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side
the cut tree seemed to falter for a moment before crashing to the ground
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of falter
Chris Jung | Nurphoto | Getty Images Shares of Nvidia have been faltering recently — and Kalshi traders predict that what the company can charge for chips is also declining.
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Ananya Chetia,
CNBC,
22 June 2026
Close financial ties among AI players — even among rivals — highlight the risk to Americans’ retirement funds should AI falter, Zitron said.
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Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
21 June 2026
If Clark falters or Shinnecock Hills rises up — now less likely with the wind expected to calm down — then Scheffler figures to be the best bet to scoop up the trophy and wrap up the career Grand Slam.
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ABC News,
20 June 2026
When Johnson faltered, Clark had plenty of breathing room — and a quick turnaround.
—
Doug Ferguson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for falter
Ananya Chetia,
CNBC,
22 June 2026
Close financial ties among AI players — even among rivals — highlight the risk to Americans’ retirement funds should AI falter, Zitron said.
—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
21 June 2026
If Clark falters or Shinnecock Hills rises up — now less likely with the wind expected to calm down — then Scheffler figures to be the best bet to scoop up the trophy and wrap up the career Grand Slam.
—
ABC News,
20 June 2026
When Johnson faltered, Clark had plenty of breathing room — and a quick turnaround.
—
Doug Ferguson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for falter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for falter
Verb
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Some foreign financial institutions could be more willing to do business with Iran, though many will probably hesitate unless the US Treasury issues specific licenses for particular transactions.
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The Duke wing unexpectedly fell out of the first round and into the Timberwolves’ lap at the start of Round 2 on Wednesday, and Minnesota didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger.
Verb
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Each time the leaves trembled, the sunlight filtering through them also wavered.
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Logic, curated by decades of precedent, suggested the 22-year-old might tremble at the growl of the aggressive, experienced Wolves.
Verb
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But things are starting to wobble.
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Suddenly, the tent jerked and wobbled.
Verb
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The early goal from Germany was a bit demoralizing for the South American team, but Nilson Angulo was able to shake it off with a beautiful shot in the ninth minute to equalize.
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Any worries about complacency were wiped away in the third minute when Auston Trusty fired home the opening goal and caused the stands at SoFi Stadium to shake (literally) with the noise and jumping fans.
Verb
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Oil prices wavered after the United States and Iran signed an agreement to end their war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil tanker traffic.
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There wasn't any attention wavering out there.
Verb
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A lot of people are upset by the notion of bringing cage fights to the White House, shuddering at the bad taste of it all.
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Design practices Not knowing ahead of time what lunar explorers may face is an unsure, shuddering proposition.
Cite this Entry
“Falter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/falter. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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