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
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Recent Examples of stagger
However, because of the large number of beneficiaries, the distribution of benefits is staggered and not all payments are made on the same day.
—
Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
Given the scale of the program, payments are staggered throughout the month rather than distributed all at once.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
Onboarding is time-consuming, especially when employee start dates are staggered.
—Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
They may also be activated to break up groups of merging vehicles into merging lanes to stagger the arrival in case of accidents clogging the lanes or other events, like hurricane evacuations or even a presidential visit, that affect the flow of cars on the expressway lanes.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stagger
Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
Given the scale of the program, payments are staggered throughout the month rather than distributed all at once.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
Onboarding is time-consuming, especially when employee start dates are staggered.
—Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
They may also be activated to break up groups of merging vehicles into merging lanes to stagger the arrival in case of accidents clogging the lanes or other events, like hurricane evacuations or even a presidential visit, that affect the flow of cars on the expressway lanes.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stagger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stagger
Verb
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But while the new movie dawdles on its way to Toxie’s origins, then rushes toward a finale with a lurching rhythm that verges on calculated ineptitude, its spirit never feels inauthentic.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
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Already, though, this ‘new’ Manchester United has lurched into its latest calamitous chapter.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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And that’s exactly where crisis communications often falter: not in what is said, but how it’s said.—
Taazima Kala,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
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Instead, Putin got validation, refused to stop his total war on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure, and Trump has backed off the sanctions threat, right when Russia's economy is starting to falter.—
John Davenport,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 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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That's because, like state officials before them, New Orleans' school board doesn't hesitate to close underperforming schools.—
Aubri Juhasz,
NPR,
25 Aug. 2025
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If New York's offense is struggling early on, Brian Daboll shouldn't hesitate to pull the plug and let the rookie play.—
Justin Grasso,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
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For example, studies by Forrester and McKinsey show that by weaving customer feedback into R&D, these firms reimagine processes, achieving 60% higher profitability and 20-30% faster growth.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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With the more powerful Tensor G5 to run larger Gemini Nano on-device models, Google has woven AI into even more parts of the OS.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Stellantis has also stumbled in its EV transition, posting a €2.3 billion net loss in the first half of 2025 as operating margins shrank to just 0.7%.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
26 Aug. 2025
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Especially underwhelming was an offense that was advertised as explosive but often sputtered and stumbled.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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For years, the trip to the Speedway meant Jeeps riding two or three wide, rolling at 60 mph, people having a good time, shooting videos.—
Eric D. Lawrence,
USA Today,
24 Aug. 2025
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That loss must have lit a fire under the team, because Vegas has been rolling ever since.—
Kilty Cleary,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Nissan has shuffled its EV plans in recent years, scrapping the timeline for bringing electric U.S.-made sedans to market and pushing back the launch of the Leaf toward the end of this year.—
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
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My shortlist of 50 wouldn’t have shuffled Braid, Celeste, or Terraria to this section, but, y’know, different strokes.—
Matt Gardner,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stagger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stagger. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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