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

But Friedlich falters at making those exchanges spark with a sense of the real. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026

The third such report from the powerful Board of Supervisors last week is very similar to language in a Paramount statement of September 8 detailing harsh consequences if the merger falters. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026

The opposite political party of whichever leads the White House fares well, while the leading party falters. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Sep. 2026

American military resources are stretched and political pressure in Washington is mounting, while Iran’s economy falters. — David Rising, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

This leadership vacuum raises serious questions about the agencies' ability to craft meaningful crypto rules, especially if the Senate's Clarity Act vote falters. — Cleve Mesidor, Forbes.com, 28 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