Synonyms of falters

falters

verb

present tense third-person singular of falter

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

• hesitates
• vacillates
• wavers
• staggers
• waits
• halts
• dithers
• debates
• teeters
• hangs back
• pauses
• wobbles
• scruples
• balances
• lingers
• sways
• ponders
• dawdles
• procrastinates
• shilly-shallies
• delays
• deliberates
• weighs
• haws
• chickens (out)
• oscillates
• backs down
• considers
• equivocates
• hems
• dallies
• hedges
• waffles
• pussyfoots

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decides
• plunges (in)
• dives (in)
• continues
• stirs
• advances
• budges

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

• trembles
• wobbles
• shakes
• shudders
• wavers
• rocks
• lurches
• totters
• vibrates
• stumbles
• quivers
• teeters
• flounders
• staggers
• toddles
• reels
• weaves
• careens
• quakes
• quavers

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of falters

Extreme heat is redefining electricity as emergency infrastructure, pushing grids to their limits as demand soars and supply falters. — Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

While the federal government remains indispensable in public health, these state-level collaborations demonstrated that regional governance can emerge quickly when national leadership falters. — John Eger, Mercury News, 17 July 2026

The system implemented by the National Weather Service falters mathematically when both the temperature and humidity are particularly high. — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 3 July 2026

Conquerors and autocrats may win the immediate battle by bullying their subjects into submission, but their empires inevitably crumble the moment their iron grip falters. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 June 2026

If Clark falters or Shinnecock Hills rises up — now less likely with the wind expected to calm down — then Scheffler figures to be the best bet to scoop up the trophy and wrap up the career Grand Slam. — ABC News, 20 June 2026

Such investors might be more inclined to dump their shares if the company's growth falters, rather than ride out the storm, Grelck said. — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 10 June 2026

Sometimes, things get a bit heavy-handed, and while there’s certainly room for museums to bear the stamp of their founders, as do the Frick Collection in New York, the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, and many others, Alice Walton’s vision sometimes falters in execution. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 8 June 2026

If Fortner falters, the Panthers will have Hecht waiting to take over. — Mike Kaye june 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 June 2026