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
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
The college football season had more staggered starts prior to the 1990s.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 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
Stack them all on one finger for a bold look, or mix and match a few across each hand for a more staggered look.
—Lauren Alexis Fisher, Footwear News, 12 Aug. 2025
Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 9 Sep. 2025
Commissioners are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, each serving staggered seven-year terms to provide continuity and independence from election cycles.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Terry staggered to the lobby and collapsed, according to court documents.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2025
Fed governors are appointed to staggered, 14-year terms to ensure that no single president can appoint too many.
—Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
The events will be somewhat staggered, fueling a stretch of megatourism rather than a more concentrated period with everything happening at once.
—State House News Service, Boston Herald, 30 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
Onboarding is time-consuming, especially when employee start dates are staggered.
—Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Wraparound terraces are staggered for privacy and shade, and a dramatic canyon cuts through the center of the building, where a 75-foot-long translucent acrylic pool bridges the gap between the rooftop terraces of the building’s north and south wings—Miami’s first of its kind.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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
The college football season had more staggered starts prior to the 1990s.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 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
Stack them all on one finger for a bold look, or mix and match a few across each hand for a more staggered look.
—Lauren Alexis Fisher, Footwear News, 12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The raises, which will be staggered, will amount to a cumulative 16% increase over the next three years, starting with a 2% increase in January 2026.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 9 Sep. 2025
Commissioners are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, each serving staggered seven-year terms to provide continuity and independence from election cycles.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Terry staggered to the lobby and collapsed, according to court documents.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2025
Fed governors are appointed to staggered, 14-year terms to ensure that no single president can appoint too many.
—Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
The events will be somewhat staggered, fueling a stretch of megatourism rather than a more concentrated period with everything happening at once.
—State House News Service, Boston Herald, 30 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
Onboarding is time-consuming, especially when employee start dates are staggered.
—Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Wraparound terraces are staggered for privacy and shade, and a dramatic canyon cuts through the center of the building, where a 75-foot-long translucent acrylic pool bridges the gap between the rooftop terraces of the building’s north and south wings—Miami’s first of its kind.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staggered
Verb
-
Kirk lurched back and to the left.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Stripped of a reliable majority, Macron's governments have lurched from one showdown to the next.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The company had traditionally hesitated to include browns in its product range, but in her first year, after nixing the violet, Waight Keller introduced mocha brown, chocolaty brown, and a winey brown that looked like it had been poured from a decanter.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Tran said some Republican clubs have even hesitated to ask their universities for support or security for their events.—
Hanna Kang,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The key is not to get overwhelmed and think everything has to be done all at once.—
Jeanne Sahadi,
CNN Money,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Not just in launch week, but in the months that follow, when people are stuck and overwhelmed and unsure of their next move.—
Dr. April Willis,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The only categories that The Studio faltered in were the Supporting Actor/Actress in a Comedy categories.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Iranian officials have long pledged to restore the lake, but revival efforts have faltered.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Everybody seems bewildered by this news, his own wife most of all.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Layered in cream, bruised, bewildered, bald.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The Kraken shuffled their front office, but didn’t change direction.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The practice schedule has also been shuffled, sleep is being emphasized and the team will travel on a larger plane.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The argument escalated into a physical brawl, with Lomax and Grossman wrestling on the ground in front of stunned festival staff and musicians.—
Jordan Runtagh,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Sure, shooting someone in the chest eventually does the job, but is it rewarded as well as a headshot, bear trap to the torso, or kicking someone’s face off when they’re stunned on the floor?—
Matt Gardner,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The candy didn’t form a cult following, though, until Nerds Gummy Clusters rolled into the candy aisle in 2020.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Sep. 2025
-
One bit of improvisation early in the second quarter stood out most, when Nix escaped pressure, rolled to his left, and found Franklin streaking down the sideline for 42 yards.—
Matt Schubert,
Denver Post,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Staggered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staggered. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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