as in hesitation
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action
when it's so clear that this is the right thing to do, there's no excuse for faltering
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in wobbly
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in hesitating
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
William Lloyd Garrison never once faltered in his demand that slavery be unconditionally abolished
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in trembling
to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side
the cut tree seemed to falter for a moment before crashing to the ground
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of faltering
Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
The Reds' season can be described as consistently inconsistent but playing well down the stretch and the New York Mets faltering has led to an opportunity to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2020.
—Jason Hoffman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Sep. 2025
And the media went along with her coverup, despite Biden’s obvious faltering.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 7 Aug. 2025
Sarah Owermohle, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
California’s growth in jobs and economic activity is faltering because Sacramento politicians have been driving away businesses, families, and wealth for years.
—Wayne Winegarden, Oc Register, 4 Jan. 2026
Stewart is among the many critics of Tapper’s involvement, as the CNN host previously defended Biden’s fitness while criticizing concerns that the former president was faltering.
—Asher Notheis, The Washington Examiner, 25 Dec. 2025
The bombing killed Iran’s already faltering agreement to not develop enriched uranium for nuclear weapons, and such efforts are already showing signs of renewal.
—The Editors, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025
Cooperation among democracies, meanwhile, is faltering.
—Nic Cheeseman, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Regathering after halftime, the Nordic wave put away the faltering Timbers.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025
There is also some evidence that hotel chains are faltering.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
The defense is faltering, the offensive line is a mess, and no one knows what McCarthy is going to do.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 1 Nov. 2025
Jim Edwards, Fortune, 9 Dec. 2025
Efforts to advance a US peace plan for Gaza appear to be faltering over reconstruction and security challenges.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 11 Nov. 2025
That reinforced the idea that inflation concerns should take a backseat to worries about faltering job growth.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 29 Oct. 2025
After faltering in the semifinals of the 2024 WNBA playoffs, Wilson and the Aces capped off a dominant postseason run Friday by sweeping the Phoenix Mercury with a 97-86 win.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 11 Oct. 2025
History will probably remember this Ravens team for faltering because of injuries, namely to their starting quarterback.
—Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
The Lions moved to 2-1, while the Ravens are now 1-2 after faltering late in this game.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2025
China's housing downturn has stretched into a fourth year, with prices, sales, investment and construction activity faltering across the board.
—Anniek Bao,lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2025
Because real power isn’t about never faltering.
—Yann Dang, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
Many in town say the struggle to transform Scotia mirrors a larger struggle in Humboldt County, which has been rocked, first by the faltering of its logging industry and more recently by the collapse of its cannabis economy.
—Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
The Reds' season can be described as consistently inconsistent but playing well down the stretch and the New York Mets faltering has led to an opportunity to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2020.
—Jason Hoffman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Sep. 2025
And the media went along with her coverup, despite Biden’s obvious faltering.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
At the same time, public information about vaccination rates is faltering.
—Sarah Owermohle, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
California’s growth in jobs and economic activity is faltering because Sacramento politicians have been driving away businesses, families, and wealth for years.
—Wayne Winegarden, Oc Register, 4 Jan. 2026
Stewart is among the many critics of Tapper’s involvement, as the CNN host previously defended Biden’s fitness while criticizing concerns that the former president was faltering.
—Asher Notheis, The Washington Examiner, 25 Dec. 2025
The bombing killed Iran’s already faltering agreement to not develop enriched uranium for nuclear weapons, and such efforts are already showing signs of renewal.
—The Editors, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025
Cooperation among democracies, meanwhile, is faltering.
—Nic Cheeseman, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Regathering after halftime, the Nordic wave put away the faltering Timbers.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025
There is also some evidence that hotel chains are faltering.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
The defense is faltering, the offensive line is a mess, and no one knows what McCarthy is going to do.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 1 Nov. 2025
Verb
The other half sees an economy on the verge of faltering, with rising unemployment, that needs easier money to avoid recession.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 9 Dec. 2025
Efforts to advance a US peace plan for Gaza appear to be faltering over reconstruction and security challenges.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 11 Nov. 2025
That reinforced the idea that inflation concerns should take a backseat to worries about faltering job growth.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 29 Oct. 2025
After faltering in the semifinals of the 2024 WNBA playoffs, Wilson and the Aces capped off a dominant postseason run Friday by sweeping the Phoenix Mercury with a 97-86 win.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 11 Oct. 2025
History will probably remember this Ravens team for faltering because of injuries, namely to their starting quarterback.
—Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
The Lions moved to 2-1, while the Ravens are now 1-2 after faltering late in this game.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2025
China's housing downturn has stretched into a fourth year, with prices, sales, investment and construction activity faltering across the board.
—Anniek Bao,lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2025
Because real power isn’t about never faltering.
—Yann Dang, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faltering
Noun
-
So there's no hesitation in that regard.—
EW Staff,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Tuesday's result capped a tumultuous final month that saw national Republican condemnation, Democratic hesitation and equivocation, and a barrage of attack ads.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Southern and central Ohio generally see less lake-effect snow, but cold snaps from a wobbly polar vortex can still bring notable snow events — especially when storms track nearby.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Californians aren’t rushing to buy either homes or new vehicles – a sign of skittish consumers in a wobbly economy.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Despite unified denouncements of antisemitism, Fetterman criticized colleagues for hesitating to fully confront anti-Israel hostility.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
18 Dec. 2025
-
After a 5% rebound rally, the benchmark is hesitating a bit around 6850, comfortably near the upper end of a two-month range but perhaps marking some time to gather itself ahead of next week's Fed meeting.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
4 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Federal lawmakers are trying to avoid another closure that would lead to furloughs of thousands of federal workers and a pause in some government operations.—
Lisa Hagen,
Hartford Courant,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Disneyland will restart its 70th anniversary celebration with a new menu lineup designed to tempt foodies and keep them coming back for more after pressing pause on the yearlong party during the Halloween and Christmas seasons.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
At the moment, its age is still uncertain.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Nov. 2025
-
How Barton will advance his campaigns now is uncertain.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
La Niña sets the stage by keeping moisture available, while the easterly QBO can trigger a wobbling polar vortex that pushes Arctic cold southward.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Freep.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Trips to Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur will be challenging, but the team are getting better at wobbling without falling over.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Big money’s hesitancy Wall Street hasn’t jumped on board with the same fervor as the average Joe.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
25 Dec. 2025
-
Their efforts were met with hesitancy from some families — installing sensors required Ayala to enter homes for installation, and some families had privacy concerns around providing data to the sensors.—
Alonso Daboub,
Mercury News,
22 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Ballard said his clients in the country at the time were unsure of what to do in the immediate aftermath of Maduro's capture.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Maduro’s supporters gathered throughout the city, many bearing arms, but seemed unsure of what to do next.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Faltering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faltering. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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