Synonyms of stagger

stagger

verb

ˈsta-gər 

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

• lurch
• totter
• weave
• stumble
• roll
• shuffle
• stomp
• waddle
• careen
• reel
• teeter
• sway
• rock
• dodder
• waver
• wobble
• shamble
• clomp
• clump
• stamp
• blunder
• flounder
• barge
• lump
• tramp
• pound
• scuff
• swag
• seesaw
• scuffle
• lumber
• tromp
• galumph

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

• falter
• hesitate
• vacillate
• halt
• waver
• dither
• wait
• scruple
• teeter
• hang back
• balance
• wobble
• pause
• linger
• sway
• debate
• delay
• shilly-shally
• ponder
• dawdle
• haw
• back down
• deliberate
• weigh
• hem
• procrastinate
• oscillate
• chicken (out)
• equivocate
• consider
• hedge
• waffle
• dally
• pussyfoot

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decide
• continue
• stir
• plunge (in)
• advance
• dive (in)
• budge

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stagger

Work has already begun on various projects, which are being staggered to avoid closing the museum completely. — News Desk, Artforum, 7 Aug. 2026

The hole gently bends from right to left, with fairway bunkers staggered along both sides. — Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

The political crisis has meant that legislative elections, originally scheduled for July 27, have now been staggered into three separate days over a period of two weeks. — Hasan Ali, Christian Science Monitor, 26 July 2026

Regardless, a handful of families are ready to move in this week, and the remaining renovation work will stagger over the next few weeks. — Julianna Mejia july 24, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026