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
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of faltering
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
China has an untested military, a looming demographic crisis, a faltering economy and a forthcoming succession struggle.
—John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
Zohran Mamdani's bid to take on former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayoral race is faltering, with new polling showing his support collapsing in a head-to-head matchup.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
As prices are increasing, reliability is faltering.
—Brian Deese, Foreign Affairs, 9 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
David Moin, Footwear News, 1 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
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
China has an untested military, a looming demographic crisis, a faltering economy and a forthcoming succession struggle.
—John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
Zohran Mamdani's bid to take on former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayoral race is faltering, with new polling showing his support collapsing in a head-to-head matchup.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
As prices are increasing, reliability is faltering.
—Brian Deese, Foreign Affairs, 9 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
The Street is critical of Cornell for not initiating enough changes and corrections to improve Target’s business, which has been faltering for several seasons.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 1 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
-
As the title suggests, its cast was entirely composed of couples in which one party was ready to get hitched, and the other had hesitations.—
James Factora,
Them.,
3 Oct. 2025
-
However, lofty goals often lead to significant hesitation or avoidance.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Even all-world corner Pat Surtain II didn’t have his best day, with Colts quarterback Daniel Jones not hesitating to go after him on routes over the middle.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
15 Sep. 2025
-
As adults, this pattern can look like hesitating to ask for help, avoiding vulnerability or keeping emotional struggles private, even from those closest to you.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
This is the bright-side scenario of course, one that would require the recent wobbly action in consumer cyclicals and consumer-credit names to reverse or at least get no worse.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Heat players tell war stories of wobbly knees.—
Rustin Dodd,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The funding pause leaves many new homeowners in high-flood risk areas scrambling for protection and could halt the processing of current damage claims.—
Tamia Fowlkes,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Contrast that with Robert Lewandowski, whose stutter, pause, judder, wait for the ’keeper to dive and then place it wide of the post didn’t work for Barcelona during their surprise defeat away to Sevilla a few hours later.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Signs of life from defensive sectors and consumer cyclicals wobbling might suggest the market is more preoccupied with near-term downside macroeconomic risk, as we likely are headed into a government shutdown and an official-data vacuum.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Designed to reduce wobbling and provide additional support, the lightweight slip-ons boast the benefits of orthopedic shoes while looking far from them.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The hospital remains closed, and the company that owns it, Ballad Health, has said its reopening is uncertain.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
5 Oct. 2025
-
While the 118 came together to save the survivors, the scars of Bobby's passing lingered, as did the uncertain future of the captain-less team.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Christine, 53, now tells PEOPLE about her hesitancy to return to the series that made her family household names.—
Dory Jackson,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Educational research shows that spoken practice strengthens memory and reduces hesitancy more effectively than passive drills, which is why Airlearn places conversation at the core of its design.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The brief clip appeared to show one of the landing skids shaking moments before the crash.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Place flour in a shallow dish; dredge chicken lightly in flour, shaking off excess.—
Elizabeth Nelson,
Southern Living,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Faltering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faltering. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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