1
as in lurched
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 hesitated
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
as in overwhelmed
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of staggered
Alice Cason, Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2025
In theory, Slot’s tactical out-of-possession shuffle to a staggered 4-3-3 should help Liverpool to defend on their right flank, but the ease with which Chelsea exploited the space was a culmination of weeks of warning signs.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Rounding the exterior details out is a staggered set of black M Dual-Spoke wheels— 19 inches in the front, 20 inches in the back—but gold-bronze rims are available as an option.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2025
Others have argued that while some constitutional provisions — like a burdensome governance structure and staggered elections — need amending, the cause of Haiti’s instability is not the document but the failure of politicians to enforce it.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
Back stateside, fans get another Monday night doubleheader – but not in the staggered format from Week 2.
—Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
What To Know The RMT has scheduled staggered walkouts from Sunday through Thursday that will affect different staff groups on different days.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Like several quasi-independent regulatory agencies in the executive branch, the STB consists of five partisan board members with staggered five-year terms who oversee a staff.
—Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
Walkers can take in the staggered plots of orange groves and prickly pear bushes in Marsalforn Valley or soak up the quiet back streets of Gharb, the island’s westernmost town, overlooking Dwerja.
—AFAR Media, 28 Aug. 2025
Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2025
The 49ers, under Kyle Shanahan’s watch since 2017, traditionally have staggered through Oktoberfest, posting a 16-22 record and losing at least two October games every season except during the 2019 team’s 8-0 start.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
The next cuts will be staggered — 10 more workers will be laid off later this month, followed by 30 in December, and 10 in late January.
—Charlotte Observer, 17 Oct. 2025
To avoid the logistical logjams that had been predicted, the rollout is being staggered.
—Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2025
But as the smoke drifted clear, the soldiers got up and staggered into the trees.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2025
All eight teams are playing on the final day of the regular season — with times TBD, but hopefully staggered — which could make this the most chaotic finale yet.
—Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Additional departure dates are staggered throughout July and August.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
To manage the vast number of recipients, payments are staggered throughout the month, with schedules determined primarily by beneficiaries’ birth dates.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
Choose a variety for staggered blooming and vibrant spring color.
—Alice Cason, Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2025
In theory, Slot’s tactical out-of-possession shuffle to a staggered 4-3-3 should help Liverpool to defend on their right flank, but the ease with which Chelsea exploited the space was a culmination of weeks of warning signs.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Rounding the exterior details out is a staggered set of black M Dual-Spoke wheels— 19 inches in the front, 20 inches in the back—but gold-bronze rims are available as an option.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2025
Others have argued that while some constitutional provisions — like a burdensome governance structure and staggered elections — need amending, the cause of Haiti’s instability is not the document but the failure of politicians to enforce it.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
Back stateside, fans get another Monday night doubleheader – but not in the staggered format from Week 2.
—Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
What To Know The RMT has scheduled staggered walkouts from Sunday through Thursday that will affect different staff groups on different days.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Like several quasi-independent regulatory agencies in the executive branch, the STB consists of five partisan board members with staggered five-year terms who oversee a staff.
—Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
Walkers can take in the staggered plots of orange groves and prickly pear bushes in Marsalforn Valley or soak up the quiet back streets of Gharb, the island’s westernmost town, overlooking Dwerja.
—AFAR Media, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Seats are elected from each of the city’s wards and serve staggered, four-year terms.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2025
The 49ers, under Kyle Shanahan’s watch since 2017, traditionally have staggered through Oktoberfest, posting a 16-22 record and losing at least two October games every season except during the 2019 team’s 8-0 start.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
The next cuts will be staggered — 10 more workers will be laid off later this month, followed by 30 in December, and 10 in late January.
—Charlotte Observer, 17 Oct. 2025
To avoid the logistical logjams that had been predicted, the rollout is being staggered.
—Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2025
But as the smoke drifted clear, the soldiers got up and staggered into the trees.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2025
All eight teams are playing on the final day of the regular season — with times TBD, but hopefully staggered — which could make this the most chaotic finale yet.
—Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Additional departure dates are staggered throughout July and August.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
To manage the vast number of recipients, payments are staggered throughout the month, with schedules determined primarily by beneficiaries’ birth dates.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staggered
Verb
-
Instead of taking a low profile and playing down any claims to Taiwan’s independent status like his more cautious DPP predecessor Tsai Ying-wen, Lai has lurched toward formal independence with a succession of speeches making the case for Taiwanese nationhood.—
Lyle Goldstein,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Hollywood lurched into a fresh wave of existential panic this week after Deadline, notating an otherwise dry industry panel on Saturday, September 27, seized on a stray remark.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Wasefi hesitated, then started to play.—
Vidushi Mishti Sharma,
Rolling Stone,
24 Oct. 2025
-
People hesitated, unsure of how to play with something new without looking foolish.—
Cas Holman,
CNBC,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Despite the downgrade, the storm unleashed catastrophic damage—particularly in New Orleans, where storm surge overwhelmed levees and flooded more than 80% of the city.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
-
For overwhelmed workers, automatic recall and task completion could mean sanity.—
The AI Insider,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
More than 70% of the investment committed in 2023 came from international public finance; however, progress in programs such as the World Bank’s landmark Mission300, established that year, has faltered.—
Paige Bruton,
semafor.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
When her movie career as an adult faltered, Lockhart shifted to television, appearing in live drama from New York and game and talk shows.—
NPR,
NPR,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The scene where ‘80s teen Marty McFly borrows a scooter from a bewildered ‘50s kid and breaks off the handles to make a skateboard is one of the film’s most iconic moments.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Small wonder the performers emerged bewildered.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
And after Paulsen’s five seasons in Washington, several of those Shanahan-tree coaches indeed shuffled Paulsen from building to building, staff to staff.—
Jourdan Rodrigue,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Backpacks borne and carry-ons in tow, travelers at Miami International Airport shuffled through serpentine security lines on Friday.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
When the former fed asked him how the script was proceeding, he was met with stunned silence.—
Steve Belanger,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Ashley was so stunned that she could be seen standing still for several seconds while trying to comprehend what was going on.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Besides being one of the best ways to stay warm, puffer jackets are also unbelievably packable, much like this Eddie Bauer down jacket that has insulation for chilly days but can be folded or rolled to practically half its size.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The offense rolled again, scoring at least 28 points for the fifth straight game.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Staggered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staggered. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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