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
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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
Noah White, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
Their faltering attempt at a total crackdown—which can’t muzzle the anger and bravery of ordinary people—and its general odor of malicious incompetence, is even seeping into the White House’s hermetic media echo chamber.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Against Gauff, Svitolina displayed relentless aggression, attacking the American’s faltering forehand.
—Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The company’s aging lineup and slow-selling Cybertruck faces growing competition from fresher EVs offered by mainstream carmakers, while the loss of federal tax credits for EV purchasers in the US has put more pressure on demand that already was faltering.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
Human rights activists say at least 2,500 people have been killed since protesters took to the streets last month, initially in a show of anger against rising prices and a faltering economy.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 16 Jan. 2026
In a time of school shootings, classroom bullying, culture wars over curricula, and faltering test scores, the impulse of some parents to take over their child’s education is understandable.
—Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 14 Jan. 2026
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
Jon Gambrell The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
Tesla reported its first-ever decline in annual revenue, with sales faltering across three of the past four quarters.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 29 Jan. 2026
Darnold has also found some big-game redemption after faltering for the Minnesota Vikings late in the season last year.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 Jan. 2026
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
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
The fact that the NCAA couldn’t hold him out has inspired other faltering pros to reverse course.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
Their faltering attempt at a total crackdown—which can’t muzzle the anger and bravery of ordinary people—and its general odor of malicious incompetence, is even seeping into the White House’s hermetic media echo chamber.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Against Gauff, Svitolina displayed relentless aggression, attacking the American’s faltering forehand.
—Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The company’s aging lineup and slow-selling Cybertruck faces growing competition from fresher EVs offered by mainstream carmakers, while the loss of federal tax credits for EV purchasers in the US has put more pressure on demand that already was faltering.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
Human rights activists say at least 2,500 people have been killed since protesters took to the streets last month, initially in a show of anger against rising prices and a faltering economy.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 16 Jan. 2026
In a time of school shootings, classroom bullying, culture wars over curricula, and faltering test scores, the impulse of some parents to take over their child’s education is understandable.
—Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 14 Jan. 2026
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
Verb
The announcement by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday came after hours of indications that the anticipated talks were faltering over changes in the format and content of the talks.
—Jon Gambrell The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
Tesla reported its first-ever decline in annual revenue, with sales faltering across three of the past four quarters.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 29 Jan. 2026
Darnold has also found some big-game redemption after faltering for the Minnesota Vikings late in the season last year.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faltering
Noun
-
One mistake or moment of hesitation could mean death.—
Scott Haugen,
Outdoor Life,
4 Feb. 2026
-
This feature helps eliminate jerky movements and hesitation.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The tiny elephant’s arrival is being celebrated as a once-in-a-generation moment as a new life takes its first wobbly steps.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Investors also are looking for D’Amaro to lift Disney’s wobbly stock, which has fallen 8% so far this year.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
However, if large enterprises are hesitating to commit and implement, that’s a broader industry headwind impacting everyone, not just SAP.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The appeals court, however, said staying the injunction serves the public interest by preventing federal agents from hesitating while carrying out lawful duties.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The pact with Washington, Oregon and four Native American tribes had allowed for a pause in the litigation.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Feb. 2026
-
This week's talks in Abu Dhabi concluded without a major breakthrough but Russia and Ukraine agreed to exchange 157 prisoners of war each, resuming such swaps after a five-month pause.—
Yuliia Dysa,
USA Today,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But a month after Maduro’s capture, while some see reason for optimism in the economy and releases of political prisoners, the country remains on an uncertain path.—
CNN 9 hr ago,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Garland’s uncertain availability, and the Cavaliers’ need to get star Donovan Mitchell more scoring help, motivated Cleveland to swap their young floor leader for Harden, who is 10 years older.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The president himself devised a solution to put a steady hand on the wobbling controls.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Not just to provide news publishers the equivalent of a fair and honest wage, but also to bolster our wobbling democracy by fostering an engaged and knowledgeable electorate.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Warsh, a former Fed governor with a Wall Street background, has been critical of the central bank's handling of inflation in the past and told CNBC in July that its hesitancy to cut interest rates undermined its credibility.—
Jessica Dickler,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Noting her hesitancy, Benedict’s character in the book guesses that Sophie is illegitimate.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The Cougars were a bit unsure of what the goaltending would look like after two-time All-Scholastic Patrick Clair graduated, but their four goalies now are a supportive and tight-knit group that’s seen Camara rise up as of late.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
7 Feb. 2026
-
There is a big difference between a buyer who must complete a specific step and one who is simply unsure.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Faltering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faltering. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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