Synonym Chooser

How does the verb falter differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of falter are hesitate, vacillate, and waver. While all these words mean "to show irresolution or uncertainty," falter implies a wavering or stumbling and often connotes nervousness, lack of courage, or outright fear.

never once faltered during her testimony

When would hesitate be a good substitute for falter?

The words hesitate and falter can be used in similar contexts, but hesitate implies a pause before deciding or acting or choosing.

hesitated before answering the question

When is vacillate a more appropriate choice than falter?

The synonyms vacillate and falter are sometimes interchangeable, but vacillate implies prolonged hesitation from inability to reach a firm decision.

vacillated until events were out of control

In what contexts can waver take the place of falter?

In some situations, the words waver and falter are roughly equivalent. However, waver implies hesitation after seeming to decide and so connotes weakness or a retreat.

wavered in his support of the rebels

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of falter The decision, after weeks of faltering efforts to agree a ceasefire with Hamas, underlines the threat that a war heaping international pressure on Israel amid dwindling public support at home could continue with no end in sight. Maayan Lubell, USA Today, 6 May 2025 The recent dramatic upward swings in the currency were largely driven by exporters’ rush to convert U.S. dollar reserves to the local currency as the U.S. dollar faltered, and life insurers’ intensified hedging for their U.S. dollar debt holdings, experts said. Anniek Bao, CNBC, 6 May 2025 Business As competitors falter, SoCal’s Skechers is surging with strategy of ‘try and try again’ July 24, 2024 Skechers had a market value of about $7.4 billion before the deal was announced. Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2025 And if Williams falters and falls short of realistic expectations? Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for falter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for falter
Verb
  • Marsch didn’t hesitate to call on the 21-year-old to replace Davies in March.
    Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 21 May 2025
  • When asked to reflect on a moment that stands out from his 5-year tenure (2000-2005), AJ didn’t hesitate.
    Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • Many episodes later, as Dedra suffers a crushing setback, Gough performs her attempts to choke back tears and still her trembling hands with an almost violent desperation.
    Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Lydia, who – based on her trembling lips – seems to be in poor health, continues to plead with Lawrence.
    EW.com, EW.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • After a brisk start to the year, growth is wobbling as businesses and investors hold their breath over President Trump's new tariff salvos and the uncertain tax landscape.
    Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
  • The omission came as Republican support for Martin appeared to wobble.
    Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 7 May 2025
Verb
  • RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 10 contestant Phoenix's drama with Ice Spice must've stirred too much after the season 3 queen clapped back against the guest judge's Main Stage critiques about her icon status, but the Drag Race OG hopes the rapper isn't too shaken in the aftermath.
    Joey Nolfi Published, EW.com, 17 May 2025
  • Clips of the pair shaking hands alongside the disco beat are making the rounds on social media.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • The Standard and Poor’s 500 index edged up 0.1% after wavering between small gains and losses much of the day.
    Damian J. Troise, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025
  • Males hover low to the ground as a result, illuminated for a few seconds to a minute at a time, while females on the ground signal back, creating what looks like a floating floor of wavering blue light.
    Elliott Harrell, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • One shudders to think how Ross, whom Grant divorced in 1929, and who died in 1951, would have reacted to so echoing a lack.
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
  • The sound seemed to shudder like a pot about to blow its lid.
    Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim, New York Times, 1 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Falter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/falter. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on falter

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