Verb
The pile of books teetered and fell to the floor.
She teetered down the street in her high heels.
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Verb
Argus’s founders believe its model can help save at least some of those small farms that are teetering on the edge.—Alexandra Talty, New York Times, 17 May 2025 A number of celebrity guests, including Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner have arrived to previous Cannes Film Festivals in looks that teetered on the edge of full nudity—often using large jewelry pieces and sheer paneling to partially cover up the models’ otherwise exposed breasts.—Elizabeth Grace Coyne, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Noun
The palace’s black walls, a dungeon with rattling chains, a man in tuxedo and ram’s head groping a naked woman, Young Salome in her Wednesday Addams outfit — the whole gestalt teeters on the verge of black comedy and kitsch.—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2025 When the hip-hop figures appear, the scene teeters toward being a touch too earnest.—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for teeter
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English titeren to totter, reel; akin to Old High German zittarōn to shiver
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