1
as in to stagger
to move forward while swaying from side to side
tottered around the house as she practiced walking in high heels
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to falter
to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side
the figurine tottered precariously for a moment before falling off the shelf
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of totter
Buruma has much to say about the shifting sands of loyalties as the Nazi and Japanese empires collapsed and the dominions of the old European imperialist powers tottered.
—
Max Hastings, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2013
The result would be that incumbents would lag, populists would surge, and democratic institutions would totter.
—Moisés Naím, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2025
The country’s economy is tottering and reliant on IMF bailouts, while the powerful military is entrenched in every aspect of life, according to its critics.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025
If the bottom falls out of, say, the Chinese real-estate market—among the largest asset classes in the world—the entire global economy could totter.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for totter
Max Hastings, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2013
The result would be that incumbents would lag, populists would surge, and democratic institutions would totter.
—Moisés Naím, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2025
The country’s economy is tottering and reliant on IMF bailouts, while the powerful military is entrenched in every aspect of life, according to its critics.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025
If the bottom falls out of, say, the Chinese real-estate market—among the largest asset classes in the world—the entire global economy could totter.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for totter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for totter
Verb
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Elena Guseva’s soprano staggers in its power and control, retaining its hue even at lofty peaks.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
20 June 2025
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Mayors are elected by council members who have staggered four-year terms and are elected by citizens.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
19 June 2025
Verb
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And then, if the team falters, dumping before the Aug. 31 deadline for players to be eligible for postseason rosters?—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
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Even high-performing teams can falter under the burden of shifting priorities and misaligned goals.—
Rahul Karan Sharma,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Verb
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On June 18th, the Karen Read saga finally lurched to its inevitable end, when a Norfolk County jury, assigned the unenviable task of spending spring and early summer watching corruption theater in Dedham court, acquitted Ms. Read of all the serious charges against her.—
Tom Blakely,
Boston Herald,
27 June 2025
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More to come on this one as the American media M&A space makes another lurch forwards.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
13 June 2025
Verb
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As Sofia unfolded the pages during her graduation celebration, her voice trembled.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
18 June 2025
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Already nervous and trembling, Wood captures the terror and claustrophobia of having your head clamped in place and one eye pried open with a speculum.—
Gayle Sequeira,
Vulture,
16 May 2025
Verb
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Then the steering wheel wobbled momentarily, and instead of turning it proceeded straight into the lane meant for oncoming traffic, prompting a honk from a car behind it.—
Abhirup Roy,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
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Since there are only two points of contact with the ground, the statues eventually begin to wobble.—
Paul Nicolaus,
Smithsonian Magazine,
26 June 2025
Verb
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And beside them, Milford, Weymouth and St. John’s of Shrewsbury also shook off their sub-20 seeding to advance at least once in an all-time showing of parity.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
21 June 2025
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The tragedy shook the small Ohio town — and stunned viewers who remembered the Stockdale family's 2008 appearance on ABC's Wife Swap.—
Christina Coulter,
People.com,
21 June 2025
Verb
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Two seagulls rode the air with outstretched wings, rocking side to side.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 June 2025
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As Tyler Durden, Pitt struts with a cigarette in his mouth, rocking his sunglasses and trademark jackets.—
Derek Scancarelli,
EW.com,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Totter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/totter. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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