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
Related Words
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
Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2026
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
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
And his retribution campaign—faltering to this point, to be sure—targeted the chairman of the Federal Reserve, who is now the subject of a Justice Department investigation.
—Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faltering
Noun
-
On the ground, first responders described how Watch Duty’s real-time wildfire mapping and alert app has become indispensable when fast-moving fires leave little room for hesitation or error.—
Erin Hill,
PEOPLE,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Weighing crypto risks versus potential returns Financial pros’ hesitation around crypto generally stems from two sources.—
Ryan Ermey,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The result feels like a cavalier stunt—an audio-documentary shrine erected on a wobbly visual-narrative foundation.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Kentucky’s wobbly path to the NCAA Tournament just got a whole lot more uncertain.—
Brendan Marks,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
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
-
The county commissioners will hold a public hearing on the plan for Comanche Circle, and separately consider putting a temporary pause on these types of big developments.—
Elizabeth Campbell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Hawke gives me a Harrison Ford-length pause — not out of nervousness, but genuine thought.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Soltani's uncertain fate garnered international attention after activists said his family had been told he would be executed for involvement in the anti-government protests that swept across the Islamic Republic in early January.—
Tucker Reals,
CBS News,
15 Jan. 2026
-
While the future of the IT workforce appears uncertain, its non-human partners are set to thrive as companies increasingly adopt new technologies.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Picture a wobbling human jenga tower.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
7 Jan. 2026
-
After years of brisk growth, the Texas economy began wobbling in 2025, as tariffs, rising macroeconomic uncertainty and reduced immigration all began to take a toll on the jobs market.—
Trevor Bach,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Jan. 2026
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 20 Jan. 2026.
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