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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in wobbly
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of faltering
Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025
Global meat consumption is still climbing and alternative protein sales are faltering.
—Bloomberg News, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Oct. 2025
Waller, a key voice on the Fed’s policy-setting committee, made clear his current outlook is dominated by concerns about a faltering labor market.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
Subsequent congressional investigations, post-campaign books, and news stories have only hardened public opinion that, with his mental acuity faltering and physical stamina limited, Biden should have stepped aside after a single term.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
However, Indiana’s college-going goal is faltering, with fewer than 52% of 2023 graduates enrolling directly to higher education, the state’s lowest rate on record.
—Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 3 Oct. 2025
With the job market faltering and new tariffs adding uncertainty to the economy, futures markets are pricing in as many as two additional cuts — totaling 75 basis points — by the end of the year, according to the CME FedWatch tool, which tracks investor expectations for Fed policy.
—Mike Winters, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
Washington — The Federal Reserve on Wednesday lowered interest rates for the first time since December to support America’s faltering labor market.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
Trump is a man of many hats Immigration has become the dominant political issue in Britain, eclipsing concerns over a faltering economy, as the country faces a record number of asylum claims.
—Vitalii Yalahuzian, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
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
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
Investors’ long-running enthusiasm for artificial intelligence showed signs of faltering late Tuesday and early Wednesday morning as tech stocks tumbled.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2025
Because real power isn’t about never faltering.
—Yann Dang, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
Lebanon’s faltering banking system.
—Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025
Global meat consumption is still climbing and alternative protein sales are faltering.
—Bloomberg News, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Oct. 2025
Waller, a key voice on the Fed’s policy-setting committee, made clear his current outlook is dominated by concerns about a faltering labor market.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
Subsequent congressional investigations, post-campaign books, and news stories have only hardened public opinion that, with his mental acuity faltering and physical stamina limited, Biden should have stepped aside after a single term.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
However, Indiana’s college-going goal is faltering, with fewer than 52% of 2023 graduates enrolling directly to higher education, the state’s lowest rate on record.
—Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 3 Oct. 2025
With the job market faltering and new tariffs adding uncertainty to the economy, futures markets are pricing in as many as two additional cuts — totaling 75 basis points — by the end of the year, according to the CME FedWatch tool, which tracks investor expectations for Fed policy.
—Mike Winters, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
Washington — The Federal Reserve on Wednesday lowered interest rates for the first time since December to support America’s faltering labor market.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
Trump is a man of many hats Immigration has become the dominant political issue in Britain, eclipsing concerns over a faltering economy, as the country faces a record number of asylum claims.
—Vitalii Yalahuzian, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
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
Investors’ long-running enthusiasm for artificial intelligence showed signs of faltering late Tuesday and early Wednesday morning as tech stocks tumbled.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2025
Because real power isn’t about never faltering.
—Yann Dang, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faltering
Noun
-
Neighbors expressed hesitation about the plans, citing the noise helicopters would cause, WPBF News 25 and WPTV reported.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Villa had known Elliott was available in the months before, yet the price caused hesitation.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
For now, Ian’s hesitating to tell Mike.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Because life—even for us jaded adults—should be for the seizing, not for hesitating in the face of fear.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The latest acceleration of price increases comes at a wobbly moment for the nation's economy.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
24 Oct. 2025
-
With center Jake Brendel missing his first start in 3 ½ seasons, and with all due respect to Matt Hennessy’s fill-in potential, Williams must anchor and lead the 49ers’ wobbly offensive line more than ever.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
On Friday, two federal judges ruled that this pause is likely unlawful.—
Jennifer Ludden,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Some guests at the Sunday lunch said the pause had not hit them yet — recipients get their benefits at different points in the month, not always on the first day.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
An internal compression pad and multiple pockets help maximize packing space in this lightweight spinner, which is crafted from water-repellent nylon and boasts a proprietary stabilizer to prevent wobbling.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The timeline for when China’s two sixth-generation fighters began secret testing prior to their sightings last year remains uncertain.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Guerrero’s status with the Blue Jays was uncertain going into the 2025 season.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Her hesitancy alone is treated as a question in need of an answer rather than a valid response to an increasingly complex choice.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Jennifer Lawrence opened up about her hesitancy about speaking to the press during an interview with The New Yorker published Monday.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
While shaking hands and chatting with members of the public, one person shouted questions regarding Prince Andrew as the monarch came near.—
Stephanie Petit,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Though slower, S waves and surface waves cause the most damage due to their intense ground-shaking motion.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Faltering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faltering. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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