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
And when New York falters, the ripple effects are often national.
—
MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
As time passes, pressure increases, communication falters, and every decision carries the weight of potential destruction.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Oct. 2025
Defaults have rocked several hotels in San Francisco as that lodging market falters.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025
Her certainty falters as the light from the mothership dims, the last traces of the hive connection dying above them.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
Given the many lives at stake if humanitarian aid falters, getting this right must be as much of a priority for the deal’s guarantors as the security elements of the agreement.
—Jeremy Konyndyk, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … SHAKEY TRUCE – Israeli soldiers killed in attack as ceasefire with Hamas briefly falters and resumes.
—FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Thiago shines while Fernandes falters Brentford produced one of the standout results of the weekend with a convincing 3-1 victory over Manchester United.
—Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
But as a violent storm traps him in isolation, Drew’s body falters and his mind begins to unravel.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025
MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
As time passes, pressure increases, communication falters, and every decision carries the weight of potential destruction.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Oct. 2025
Defaults have rocked several hotels in San Francisco as that lodging market falters.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025
Her certainty falters as the light from the mothership dims, the last traces of the hive connection dying above them.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
Given the many lives at stake if humanitarian aid falters, getting this right must be as much of a priority for the deal’s guarantors as the security elements of the agreement.
—Jeremy Konyndyk, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … SHAKEY TRUCE – Israeli soldiers killed in attack as ceasefire with Hamas briefly falters and resumes.
—FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Thiago shines while Fernandes falters Brentford produced one of the standout results of the weekend with a convincing 3-1 victory over Manchester United.
—Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
But as a violent storm traps him in isolation, Drew’s body falters and his mind begins to unravel.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for falters
Verb
-
In the final scene, Lee hesitates for a moment before letting Stella choose.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
22 Oct. 2025
-
If the alliance hesitates, Putin will see weakness and press harder.—
David A. Deptula,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And the resulting 35-yard field goal try — a six-inch gimmie putt in the modern NFL — wobbles wide right.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The tone wobbles between genuine dread and a kind of earnest, slightly campy nostalgia reminiscent of Stand by Me.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Where to Eat Breakfast Coffee lovers will want to fuel up for a day exploring Coconut Creek at Cali Coffee, a South Florida drive-thru coffee chain known for its frozen drinks, refreshers, shakes, and more.—
Skye Sherman,
Southern Living,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Advertisement Back at the bookstore, the hilarity gives way to a confrontation that shakes Lee to his core.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Advertisement While Mun-ju wavers in her aspiration to become the next president of Korea across the series’ nine episodes, Jung knew a commitment to that goal would be the character’s ending point.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Brayden Yager appears to be the opposite of that — a centreman whose all-around game should be enough to win NHL minutes even if his offence wavers at the pro level.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Adapted from the first book in Herron's Zoë Boehm series, Down Cemetery Road follows Sarah Trafford (Wilson), a woman who becomes obsessed with the sudden disappearance of her young neighbor after a house explosion rocks their neighborhood.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Bethenny Frankel rocks a baby blue dress at the RoC Skincare Lip Volumizer Pop Up Event in Los Angeles.—
Lex Goldstein,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
But as the shutdown lurches through its fifth week, and legislators direct blame at each other, food pantries across the Kansas City area are left to grapple with the fallout.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Despite that notable change, watching One Battle After Another is much like the experience of reading Pynchon, who lurches from high comedy to stomach-turning naturalism and punctuates plot-heavy sequences with little grace notes of character portraiture.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Falters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/falters. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share