Definition of FALTERED

Choose the Right Synonym for falter

Verb

hesitate, waver, vacillate, falter mean to show irresolution or uncertainty. hesitate implies a pause before deciding or acting or choosing. hesitated before answering the question waver implies hesitation after seeming to decide and so connotes weakness or a retreat. wavered in his support of the rebels vacillate implies prolonged hesitation from inability to reach a firm decision. vacillated until events were out of control falter implies a wavering or stumbling and often connotes nervousness, lack of courage, or outright fear. never once faltered during her testimony

Examples of falter in a Sentence

Verb

The business was faltering due to poor management. Their initial optimism has faltered. signs that the economy is faltering Her steps began to falter.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Many anti-Trump conservative outlets have faltered during his presidency, most notably the Weekly Standard, which ceased operations last December. — Alex Shephard, The New Republic, "The Boundless Grift of Right-Wing Media Watchdogs," 4 Sep. 2019 After a strong start in the early weeks of the season, Sporting KC has faltered this year, stumbling at one point to the bottom rung of the Western Conference before pulling itself up to the No. — Julia Poe, Pro Soccer USA, "Orlando City chases crucial win over Sporting Kansas City," 14 Aug. 2019 But the process has faltered amid swings in the oil market, the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and skepticism over the $2 trillion valuation Saudi officials hard targeted. — Clare Duffy, CNN, "Saudi Arabia's giant and secretive oil company will make its half-year profits public on Monday," 11 Aug. 2019 But past attempts to do even this without subsidies have faltered. — Alana Semuels, Time, "'I'm Back to Riding My Own Bike.' Higher Prices Threaten Silicon Valley’s Mobility Revolution," 9 Aug. 2019 Attempts to reach a compromise have faltered, and a July workshop organized by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to search for a solution was canceled when federal agencies declined to attend. — Gabriel Popkin, Science | AAAS, "Forecasters fear 5G wireless technology will muck up weather predictions," 7 Aug. 2019 His administration’s attempt to negotiate a trade deal with the bloc has also faltered as the two sides continue to disagree about which industries, like agriculture, should be included in any deal. — BostonGlobe.com, "The trade body opened the door for the Trump administration to impose billions of dollars in retaliatory sanctions in May, when it ruled that Europe had illegally subsidized Airbus to the detriment of its American competitor Boeing.," 17 Sep. 2019 His administration’s attempt to negotiate a trade deal with the bloc has also faltered as the two sides continue to disagree about which industries, like agriculture, should be included in any deal. — New York Times, "Trump Cleared to Put More Tariffs on Europe in Airbus Case," 16 Sep. 2019 The former editor of PC World Magazine and CNET, Fox lost his taste for journalism while watching its business model falter amid the rise of digital media. — John Wenzel, The Know, "Urban Putt transforms Denver’s Old Spaghetti Factory into surreal mini-golf playground (with a bar)," 13 Sep. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

With small donors, success can breed success, but a falter on the trail can touch off a cash crisis. — Evan Halper, Los Angeles Times, "Small donors don’t cut it for many Democratic candidates. Back to the rich," 4 Sep. 2019 His pace is as electric as ever, his passing crisp as could be and well, even when his finishing falters, those aforementioned German defenders are more than willing to oblige. — SI.com, "90min's Definitive European Player Power Rankings: International Break Special," 9 Sep. 2019 If the service falters or show serious signs of weakness, its competitors are going to be eager to pounce -- and make any PR problems associated with that worse. — Brian Lowry, CNN, "Netflix could face trouble ahead. Here's why," 20 Aug. 2019 China's current economic slowdown—sparked, in part, by its ongoing trade war with the United States—is one reason for Baidu's falter. — Fortune, "Baidu Loses, Then Regains, Its Spot in China’s 5 Most Valuable Internet Companies," 16 Aug. 2019 If the former vice president falters, or if his campaign continues to resemble a never-ending apology tour, donors are investing in contingency candidates, and right now that means Buttigieg and Harris. — Alex Shephard, The New Republic, "What Does Big Tech Want From Buttigieg?," 9 July 2019 Boston’s lead was erased in the seventh with a disastrous nine-run inning that saw the Yankees send 14 guys to the plate and three Red Sox relievers falter, from Marcus Walden to Matt Barnes to Josh Taylor. — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, "Red Sox traveled long way to learn they’re far from being threat to Yankees," 30 June 2019 And demand for social services will increase when the economy falters, which is precisely the time when the state’s tax collections fall. — The Economist, "WelfareCalifornia and Texas are both failing their neediest citizens," 22 June 2019 Why, then, does the pulse of the narrative falter in the second half? — Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, "Gus Van Sant’s Semi-Surreal “Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot”," 13 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'falter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.