1
as in to lurch
to move forward while swaying from side to side
I was so tired last night that I just staggered upstairs to bed without eating dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to falter
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
a daunting problem that would make even the most decisive person stagger just a bit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stagger
When oil prices slid and mismanagement came due, the country staggered into hyperinflation, shortages, and mass migration, culminating in a full‑blown humanitarian crisis that outlived Chávez and deepened under his successor, Nicolás Maduro.
—
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2026
Construction will be staggered to avoid too many simultaneous trail closures, officials said.
—Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
Typically, remains were exposed prior to cremation, and individual burials were staggered over time.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 21 Dec. 2025
The city decided to impose it after seeing positive results already from a yearlong experiment to stagger and limit the number of visitors who can reach the front basin edge of the fountain by imposing lines and an entrance and exit pathway.
—CBS News, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stagger
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2026
Construction will be staggered to avoid too many simultaneous trail closures, officials said.
—Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
Typically, remains were exposed prior to cremation, and individual burials were staggered over time.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 21 Dec. 2025
The city decided to impose it after seeing positive results already from a yearlong experiment to stagger and limit the number of visitors who can reach the front basin edge of the fountain by imposing lines and an entrance and exit pathway.
—CBS News, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stagger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stagger
Verb
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When her car began to lurch forward, an agent near the front left-side of the SUV drew his gun and shot her at close range.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
14 Jan. 2026
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Natanya complicates her old-school character sketch with cerebral shifts in perspective, affecting each of the voices that accompany a young woman’s drive for success and independence (demanding friends and parents, sexist expectations, her own willpower) in a lurching cascade of melodies.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The film falters, however, once something resembling an actual plot kicks in.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2026
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However, as the world reopened and gyms returned to normal operations, Peloton’s growth engines began to falter.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Now, even that tiny effort is tottering.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Now, even that tiny effort is tottering.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In normal times, leaders might hesitate to impose that kind of moral weight on employees already living through the hardships of a global crisis.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
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Older workers face forced plateaus as organizations hesitate to invest in workers over 50, assuming their time is limited, minds are dulling, and retirement is imminent.—
Dan Pontefract,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The art of being human includes admitting mistakes, a feature developers are increasingly weaving into AI systems.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
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For the first time, Colombian singer-songwriter Gusi and Guatemalan singer-songwriter Zelaya unite their talents, weaving together the vibrant spirit of their homelands in a song that celebrates love and the richness of life.—
Tere Aguilera,
Billboard,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The same officer shoves Pretti in his chest, leading Pretti and the other protester to stumble backward.—
Hannah Fingerhut,
Twin Cities,
25 Jan. 2026
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Dutcher and his staff might have stumbled on something.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The team created a scalable process that rolls flat, two-dimensional MXene sheets into ultra-thin tubular structures known as MXene nanoscrolls.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Jan. 2026
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These are the romance movies that lean into big emotions, meaningful connections, and the kind of love that lingers long after the credits roll — and will likely leave you balling your eyes out.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The downstairs staffs of the richest and noblest families start to shuffle around so chaotically that even Lady Whistledown takes notice of in her column.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
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The videos showed Chicago kissing and hugging a sable-furred puppy in the family's living room while Psalm shuffled around on his hands and knees trying to chase one of the dark-haired dogs around the room.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stagger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stagger. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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