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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of stagger
Make the most of the shoulder seasons Almost all schools in England enjoy the long summer break at the same time (unlike in Scotland, which staggers its school vacation time for each region).
—
Lottie Gross, AFAR Media, 29 Aug. 2025
Dish was losing money, staggering under $21 billion in debt and hemorrhaging pay TV subscribers.
—Monica Hunter-Hart, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Ecclestone was removed as the championship’s boss, and his successors were staggered to see how underdeveloped F1’s marketing was overall.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
In the late stages of the disease, deer might stagger, drool excessively and, again, show little to no fear of humans, the department stated.
—Gillian Stawiszynski, The Enquirer, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stagger
Lottie Gross, AFAR Media, 29 Aug. 2025
Dish was losing money, staggering under $21 billion in debt and hemorrhaging pay TV subscribers.
—Monica Hunter-Hart, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Ecclestone was removed as the championship’s boss, and his successors were staggered to see how underdeveloped F1’s marketing was overall.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
In the late stages of the disease, deer might stagger, drool excessively and, again, show little to no fear of humans, the department stated.
—Gillian Stawiszynski, The Enquirer, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stagger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stagger
Verb
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As bystanders watched, the luxury yacht lurched to one side, tilting dangerously before taking on water.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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In the face of this onslaught, the alcohol industry’s efforts to make drinking popular again have lurched into paranoia.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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As the business cycle… cycles, eventually growth will falter.—
George Calhoun,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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But their defense, which had been their strong suit in recent seasons, faltered greatly and was also a major factor in their poor showing.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As Joe Biden tottered and fell (literally as well as metaphorically), more than a few pundits compared him to Lear, a man who was ruined by age, pride, and the flattery of sycophants.—
Tyler Austin Harper,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2025
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Dina Tomczak, the school’s athletic director, tottered into her office having barely slept.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Verb
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In Larsen’s view, striking at the right moment - whether in blockchain, AI, or precision medicine - requires not only patience but also the courage to act decisively when others hesitate.—
Francois Botha,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Some executives hesitated, unsure of what to expect.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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SkyMed follows the triumphs and tribulations of young medics and pilots who fly air ambulances across the remote skies of Northern Canada, weaving together intense journeys with jaw-dropping medical rescues 20,000 feet in the air in the most remote conditions.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
2 Sep. 2025
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Editor Kirk Baxter also received praise for weaving together the film’s three parts, which show different points of view over the course of the same 20 minutes of action.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Closer Bryan Abreu stumbled but has earned the benefit of the doubt with the dominance he’s displayed.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
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Exposure to harmful content is another risk as studies show that teens are more likely than adults to stumble upon self-harm imagery or extremist propaganda.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Departing from its 1905 depot like a moving postcard, the train follows the Toccoa River, passing sycamores and sourwoods, rolling hills, and farms along the way.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
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Those involved in the parade rolled by in a colorful blur on roller skates, performed flag dances and wielded bubble makers.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Young Hamnet’s shuffling off this mortal coil once laid the groundwork for a masterpiece.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
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Shelters that shuffle people in and out overnight don’t solve anything.—
Stephan Rabimov,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stagger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stagger. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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