as in senile
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Dissimilar Words
as in lurching
to move forward while swaying from side to side
was doddering down the walk outside the nursing home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of doddering
Michael Schneider, Variety, 21 July 2025
The secondary villain is a doddering, power-hungry elderly man with an unruly mop of hair and a flock of advisors who constantly shower him with unearned praise.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 9 July 2025
Does the diagnosis explain Biden’s occasionally doddering affect?
—Adam B. Kushner, New York Times, 21 May 2025
As many Democrats in Congress have struggled to respond to the fire hose of disruption—at times seeming downright doddering in response to the White House’s potential upending of the constitutional order—the 53-year-old Schatz has helped his party find their footing.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for doddering
Adjective
The trio find work at the Planet Express Delivery Company, founded by Fry’s doddering descendant, Professor Hubert Farnsworth.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 21 July 2025
The secondary villain is a doddering, power-hungry elderly man with an unruly mop of hair and a flock of advisors who constantly shower him with unearned praise.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 9 July 2025
Does the diagnosis explain Biden’s occasionally doddering affect?
—Adam B. Kushner, New York Times, 21 May 2025
As many Democrats in Congress have struggled to respond to the fire hose of disruption—at times seeming downright doddering in response to the White House’s potential upending of the constitutional order—the 53-year-old Schatz has helped his party find their footing.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for doddering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for doddering
Adjective
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Billy Chapman is again introduced as a child (Logan Sawyer) visiting his senile grandpa in a rest home.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
11 Dec. 2025
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The kids can’t spell and the world leaders are senile.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Natanya complicates her old-school character sketch with cerebral shifts in perspective, affecting each of the voices that accompany a young woman’s drive for success and independence (demanding friends and parents, sexist expectations, her own willpower) in a lurching cascade of melodies.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
13 Jan. 2026
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The midterm blue wave backlash is gathering, with the generic ballot lurching in the Democrats' favor and Trump’s popularity cratering.—
Matt Robison,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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The New York Times reported in December 2024 that at least one staff member warned against hiring Nguyen, citing his criminal history involving financial exploitation of an elderly couple.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
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Los Angeles police are searching for the driver of a black Dodge Durango that fatally struck an elderly woman crossing a street in Pacoima on Friday night and fled the scene.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Cheng likes to build muni bond ladders, which means staggering the maturity dates of multiple bonds.—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
29 Oct. 2025
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To get through the season and the playoffs, staggering the minutes of Green and Horford is logical, even with Quintin Post picking up some center minutes.—
Jannelle Moore,
Mercury News,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In 1993, Atlanta received one of the first grants awarded by the federal HOPE VI program—which aimed to knock down the most decrepit public-housing projects in America and replace them with better housing—to demolish and rebuild the Techwood Homes.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
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But the United States has only three such vessels, one of which is so decrepit as to be barely usable.—
Sam McNeil,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Now, even that tiny effort is tottering.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Now, even that tiny effort is tottering.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Harris reports that only about 39% of available geriatric fellowship positions were filled in 2025.—
Howard Gleckman,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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Advertisement There’s also some data behind the possibility for whole-body vibration to improve bone mineral density, particularly in post-menopausal women and geriatric populations.—
Jennifer Heimlich,
Time,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Even when the locals lost faith, Villa remained focused, forever shuffling side to side and defending with the same urgency.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
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Go on a street food tour Street food tours are great things to do in Sicily and a fabulous alternative to hours of shuffling through museums.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Doddering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doddering. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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