1
as in hesitates
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in trembles
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of falters
If Oviedo falters over the next month, the Red Sox may be forced to flip him with either Tolle or Early.
—
Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Alice never falters in her suspicions.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
But when their friendship falters, Minnie is forced to navigate her own identity.
—Teresa Xie, NPR, 20 Feb. 2026
Trying to hold all of that in, trying to be the one who never falters is not sustainable.
—Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
What never falters is the euphoric chaos of the experience.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Where the film falters is in its plodding rhythm and clunky dialogue, much of which is delivered too flatly by actors who don’t exactly steal their scenes.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
Remove access and time, and even the strongest student falters.
—Arkansas Online, 2 Feb. 2026
But again, the editing is where the experiment truly falters.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026
Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Alice never falters in her suspicions.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
But when their friendship falters, Minnie is forced to navigate her own identity.
—Teresa Xie, NPR, 20 Feb. 2026
Trying to hold all of that in, trying to be the one who never falters is not sustainable.
—Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
What never falters is the euphoric chaos of the experience.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Where the film falters is in its plodding rhythm and clunky dialogue, much of which is delivered too flatly by actors who don’t exactly steal their scenes.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
Remove access and time, and even the strongest student falters.
—Arkansas Online, 2 Feb. 2026
But again, the editing is where the experiment truly falters.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for falters
Verb
-
Though Pollan hesitates to claim that a fundamental aspect of human capability and human experience remains beyond science’s reach, A World Appears closely maps out such a territory.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
11 Mar. 2026
-
If a planner hesitates or hedges on this question, consider that a red flag.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The start of its third act wobbles a bit, but the filmmakers provide a smashing ending that holds hope there will be more adventures to follow.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The grades look normal, the homework gets turned in, and then a new unit shows up, and the whole thing wobbles.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
President Barack Obama shakes hands with Shigeaki Mori at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 27, 2016.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Famously there is a leap day every four years—that shakes things up.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The mind shudders at the thought.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
-
So one shudders to think what might happen when the Dolphins now face a murderer’s row of elite running backs and mobile quarterbacks.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Our editors have tested tons of tools—alongside expert recommendations—to find the hair wavers that make getting glossy, tousled texture almost too easy.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
18 Mar. 2026
-
In the movie theater, and increasingly on smaller screens, the boundaries between real and reel wavers and blurs.—
Richard Lederer,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Keeping forearms grounded, press through your toes and shift your weight forward so that your whole body rocks forward several inches.—
Jenny McCoy,
Outside,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Now 71, Funderburgh still rocks a pompadour — albeit smaller and streaked with silver — that once inspired former bandmate Mike Judge to sketch Beavis.—
Thor Christensen,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But Wembanyama is on the short list of MVP favorites as the league lurches toward the playoffs, a list that includes former NBA champions Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of OKC, Denver’s Nikola Jokic along with Detroit’s Cade Cunningham and Los Angeles’ Luka Doncic.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Feb. 2026
-
After a moment of hesitation, Harington lurches forward and plants a passionate kiss on Turner, who responds in kind.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But The Gilded Age doesn’t do pure villains with its main cast, and Oscar totters between failson and tragic figure, the closeted heir of the Van Rhijn family dragged to hell and back after being defrauded of his mother’s fortune.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Falters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/falters. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
