as in to stagger
to move forward while swaying from side to side
was doddering down the walk outside the nursing home
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Recent Examples of dodder
And, earlier today, at 7:23 am, one of our older Brothers, while doddering across the Reforma Promenade, was struck down and killed by a speeding motor scooter.
—
Charles Portis, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
Probably quite poorly, conjuring images of Trump doddering around on a golf course.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 21 July 2024
Tel Aviv University biologist Daniel Chamovitz discusses dodder and many other fascinating plants in his upcoming book, What A Plant Knows, an excerpt from which appears in the May issue of Scientific American.
—Scientific American, 11 Mar. 2021
The Dodgers appeared to dodder in the first two games, running up huge pitch counts against Atlanta starters Max Fried and Ian Anderson, but failing to score a run in 14 of the first 15 innings.
—Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 15 Oct. 2020
Last, the researchers created a green fluorescent version of the flowering signal chemical, which provided visual evidence that dodder plant tissues can absorb the chemical and direct it to their flowering mechanisms.
—Theresa MacHemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Sep. 2020
As for pests, experts have identified a tiny wasp, two noxious weeds (water spinach and dodder) and a larval seed beetle.
—Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2020
The pale, curvy pillars of Phil Charlwood’s set variously represent forest trees; the cottage of the wise, doddering Sami Finn Woman (an amusing Anna Lynch); and, helped by frosty lighting designed by Doug Del Pizzo, the Snow Queen’s castle.
—Celia Wren, Washington Post, 15 Dec. 2019
Cassidy took control when the Bruins were doddering along at 26-23-6, both feet firmly planted on a path to a third consecutive DNQ.
—BostonGlobe.com, 23 Nov. 2019
Charles Portis, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
Probably quite poorly, conjuring images of Trump doddering around on a golf course.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 21 July 2024
Tel Aviv University biologist Daniel Chamovitz discusses dodder and many other fascinating plants in his upcoming book, What A Plant Knows, an excerpt from which appears in the May issue of Scientific American.
—Scientific American, 11 Mar. 2021
The Dodgers appeared to dodder in the first two games, running up huge pitch counts against Atlanta starters Max Fried and Ian Anderson, but failing to score a run in 14 of the first 15 innings.
—Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 15 Oct. 2020
Last, the researchers created a green fluorescent version of the flowering signal chemical, which provided visual evidence that dodder plant tissues can absorb the chemical and direct it to their flowering mechanisms.
—Theresa MacHemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Sep. 2020
As for pests, experts have identified a tiny wasp, two noxious weeds (water spinach and dodder) and a larval seed beetle.
—Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2020
The pale, curvy pillars of Phil Charlwood’s set variously represent forest trees; the cottage of the wise, doddering Sami Finn Woman (an amusing Anna Lynch); and, helped by frosty lighting designed by Doug Del Pizzo, the Snow Queen’s castle.
—Celia Wren, Washington Post, 15 Dec. 2019
Cassidy took control when the Bruins were doddering along at 26-23-6, both feet firmly planted on a path to a third consecutive DNQ.
—BostonGlobe.com, 23 Nov. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dodder
Verb
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As Harry staggers away from what's left of his victim, Richie seems satisfied.—
Matt Cabral,
EW.com,
20 Apr. 2025
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The data collection efforts that have been shut down or are at risk of being curtailed are staggering in their breadth.—
Alec MacGillis,
ProPublica,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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My stomach dropped as my seat lurched backwards, pointing me towards the shoreline.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
-
As the war lurched into its fourth year, Russian losses of tanks, fighting vehicles and other heavy equipment had exceeded 20,000, according to the analysts at the Oryx intelligence collective, which confirms each loss with imagery from the front line.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Sherrod opened the scoring with a 65-yard touchdown, weaving through the defense before breaking into the open backfield.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Apr. 2025
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Emotive, enchanting and exotic, the track weaves kalimba and chanting vocals with soft, brooding piano and string parts — and even a subtle harp.—
Katie Bain,
Billboard,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Through a popular uprising and a long and hideous civil war, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime tottered at times, but held on, propped up by allies Russia and Iran.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
25 Mar. 2025
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Dodder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dodder. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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