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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of stagger
The bill's current language staggers the start date for tax changes and the federal budget until after the November 2026 elections.
—
ABC News, 3 July 2025
Various tawdry plots are picked up and discarded as the story staggers onward.
—Charlie Lee, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025
According to the terms of the proposal, the release of the 10 living hostages and 15 bodies will be staggered over the 60-day period the temporary ceasefire is in effect.
—ABC News, 4 July 2025
The victim staggered up to the mezzanine before collapsing at a turnstile, according to an MTA worker.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stagger
ABC News, 3 July 2025
Various tawdry plots are picked up and discarded as the story staggers onward.
—Charlie Lee, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025
According to the terms of the proposal, the release of the 10 living hostages and 15 bodies will be staggered over the 60-day period the temporary ceasefire is in effect.
—ABC News, 4 July 2025
The victim staggered up to the mezzanine before collapsing at a turnstile, according to an MTA worker.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stagger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stagger
Verb
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Later in the drive, FSD lurched right – for no apparent reason – and tried to go down a steep driveway grade toward a locked gate.—
Brooke Crothers,
Forbes.com,
17 July 2025
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From the outside, the company has appeared to be lurching from one crisis to the next.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
7 July 2025
Verb
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High-multiple growth stocks often falter during economic slowdowns, as lower earnings growth leads to sharp contractions in valuation multiples.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
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Trump has made ending the conflict a major priority of his administration, though negotiations have faltered.—
Emily Rose,
USA Today,
3 Aug. 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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Utilize available accessibility services and don't hesitate to request assistance when needed.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
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Thanks to a couple who didn't hesitate to help, a small, injured stray cat now has a second chance at life and a forever home—even if down a limb.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Now, with just a few months’ notice, staff are dismantling a 30-year program carefully woven into the city’s social safety net.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Aug. 2025
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The last time might have been in a regional nightclub in the mid aughts, or weaving through a busy high street.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The Wave have been fortunate that Orlando and Washington have also stumbled, keeping the gap small.—
Fernando Ramirez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Aug. 2025
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Indeed, the Braves overcame an early 5-1 deficit in the series opener Tuesday with four runs in the fourth inning to tie the score, only to give it right back on a night when Spencer Strider stumbled, tying a career high with eight runs allowed in four innings.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The montage opened with a solo photo of Beatrice giving a soft smile and rolled to show shots of the sisters together, including a fun image of them holding sandwiches and a selfie with their mother, Sarah Ferguson. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage?—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
9 Aug. 2025
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Meanwhile the Brewers have rolled under manager Pat Murphy, who had been Counsell’s coach at Notre Dame and served as Counsell’s bench coach.—
Phil Rogers,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The coaching staff shuffled its depth chart, handing extra reps to players who had performed well over the previous nine practices and deserved a longer look.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
4 Aug. 2025
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From ones that incorporate fans to odes to classic binge-worthy TV, with the help of social media, everyone’s creative wheels are turning — and people are learning one new step after another, feet shuffling, turning, stepping with ease.—
Victoria Uwumarogie,
Essence,
4 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stagger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stagger. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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