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
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of staggered
Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
In Liverpool’s second game against Newcastle, the shape was the same as Gakpo retreated alongside Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch in their staggered shape.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 15 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
Secured by receivables, inventory or equipment, ABLs often carry lower spreads and can be structured with staggered maturities.
—Meelan Gupta, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Plus, the staggered design features drainage holes on each level, which allows water to trickle from one bin to the next for more efficient irrigation.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Aug. 2025
The president also appoints the six other members of the Fed’s governing board, who can serve staggered terms of up to 14 years.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2025
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
Wounded by multiple gunshots, Barron staggered a little more than 17 feet away from his truck and from Maltos and Olvera, documents said.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 25 Sep. 2025
The bald man staggered to his feet, hand on his throat.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Sep. 2025
The planet staggered toward the most dangerous greenhouse in the fossil record.
—Peter Brannen, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Toronto has occupied the top spot in the AL East since July 2 but staggered a bit in August, its worst month, with a 15-12 record.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions boarded offshore rights on the A24 original out of the 2024 European Film Market in Berlin, and staggered overseas release from June through September this summer, cranking out strong numbers and holds along the way.
—Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
Back stateside, fans get another Monday night doubleheader – but not in the staggered format from Week 2.
—Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
In Liverpool’s second game against Newcastle, the shape was the same as Gakpo retreated alongside Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch in their staggered shape.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 15 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
Secured by receivables, inventory or equipment, ABLs often carry lower spreads and can be structured with staggered maturities.
—Meelan Gupta, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Plus, the staggered design features drainage holes on each level, which allows water to trickle from one bin to the next for more efficient irrigation.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Aug. 2025
The president also appoints the six other members of the Fed’s governing board, who can serve staggered terms of up to 14 years.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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
Wounded by multiple gunshots, Barron staggered a little more than 17 feet away from his truck and from Maltos and Olvera, documents said.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 25 Sep. 2025
The bald man staggered to his feet, hand on his throat.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Sep. 2025
The planet staggered toward the most dangerous greenhouse in the fossil record.
—Peter Brannen, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Toronto has occupied the top spot in the AL East since July 2 but staggered a bit in August, its worst month, with a 15-12 record.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions boarded offshore rights on the A24 original out of the 2024 European Film Market in Berlin, and staggered overseas release from June through September this summer, cranking out strong numbers and holds along the way.
—Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staggered
Verb
-
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
-
The escalator lurched to a halt just after the pair got on.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Shaking in his seat, Dobby initially hesitated to comment on the subject, but then segment anchor Michael Che offered him some encouragement.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Oct. 2025
-
The director hesitated to watch the film at the Cannes Classics showing.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Anytime that gets worse and creates a shortage of controllers, the FAA reduces the number of takeoffs and landings to ensure controllers aren’t overwhelmed and the system remains safe.—
Josh Funk,
Fortune,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Generally, the National Guard has been federalized and deployed domestically to respond to civil unrest in extreme circumstances, where state and local law enforcement were completely overwhelmed, Goitein said.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Like last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Hurts had a hot start and then faltered in the second half.—
Ted Nguyen,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Although both players were made to save break points early on in the deciding set, Nosková faltered first as Anisimova took a 4-2 lead, cutting down on the unforced errors that were her downfall in the second.—
Frank Nunns O'Connell,
CNN Money,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
As Friday’s stabbing incident involving NFL alum Mark Sanchez slowly comes into focus, the team at Fox Sports seems to be just as bewildered as the rest of us.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Hair disheveled, a dazed and bewildered look in his eyes, the coach trudged into his own dressing room to regroup and get a rundown of a growing list of injuries.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Amid the hangover of the 0-4 start, students shuffled out their dorms, lured by free food and faint promise of school spirit at the Rose Bowl.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Restyle Soft Goods Soft goods like accent pillows, throw blankets, and even curtains can be easily shuffled around to refresh your space, Reinhard says.—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Combs appeared stunned and wide-eyed as Subramanian mentioned his children in his address and also imposed five years of supervised release and a $500,000 fine, the maximum possible.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Though Guzman had always wanted to go, this year marked her first time, and stepping inside left her stunned.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After the show's intro rolled, his monologue was riddled with Swift jokes.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
-
For six months, the Phillies were better than almost every team that rolled into Citizens Bank Park.—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Staggered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staggered. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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