Synonyms of staggering

staggering 1 of 3

adjective

ˈsta-g(ə-)riŋ 

as in astonishing

causing wonder or astonishment

the staggering scope of the new construction on campus

Synonyms & Similar Words

• astonishing
• amazing
• surprising
• wonderful
• miraculous
• incredible
• stunning
• sublime
• marvelous
• impressive
• extraordinary
• astounding
• stupendous
• remarkable
• awesome
• prodigious
• wondrous
• spectacular
• fabulous
• portentous
• awful
• unbelievable
• interesting
• fascinating
• unimaginable
• unusual
• inconceivable
• eye-opening
• incomprehensible
• outstanding
• striking
• unthinkable
• unique
• phenomenal
• noticeable
• exciting
• attracting
• uncommon
• rare
• enchanting
• notable
• attractive
• sensational
• conspicuous
• charming
• unwonted
• mind-boggling
• smashing
• singular
• mind-blowing
• enlightening
• entertaining
• alluring
• mind-bending
• enthralling
• beguiling
• captivating
• animating
• stimulating
• galvanizing
• invigorating
• bewitching
• enlivening
• energizing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unimpressive
• unremarkable
• tedious
• weary
• typical
• uninspiring
• usual
• monotonous
• ordinary
• uninteresting
• wearisome
• normal
• boring
• common
• tiring
• wearying
• customary
• dull
• uninspired
• mundane
• unexceptional
• draining
• exhausting
• debilitating
• wearing
• fatiguing
• discouraging
• jading
• disheartening
• demoralizing
• dispiriting
• enervating
• enfeebling

staggering

2 of 3

noun

as in wobbling

Related Words

• wobbling
• faltering
• indecision
• hesitation
• wavering
• vacillation
• irresolution
• reluctance
• unwillingness
• reticence
• fence-sitting
• uncertainty
• shilly-shallying
• doubt
• hesitancy
• hesitance
• distrust
• skepticism
• disinclination
• mistrust
• incertitude
• suspicion
• uncertainness
• distrustfulness
• mistrustfulness
• misgiving
• misdoubt

Dissimilar Words

• willingness
• inclination
• conviction
• certainty
• assurance
• surety
• certitude
• assuredness
• sureness
• positiveness

staggering

3 of 3

verb

present participle of stagger

1

as in lurching

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

• lurching
• reeling
• weaving
• shuffling
• stumbling
• rolling
• tottering
• stomping
• waddling
• careening
• teetering
• rocking
• swaying
• doddering
• wobbling
• wavering
• blundering
• shambling
• floundering
• pounding
• scuffling
• seesawing
• barging
• lumping
• clumping
• swagging
• stamping
• tramping
• lumbering
• scuffing
• clomping
• galumphing
• tromping

2

as in faltering

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

• faltering
• hesitating
• balancing
• dithering
• vacillating
• waiting
• hanging back
• halting
• debating
• wavering
• wobbling
• teetering
• pausing
• swaying
• scrupling
• lingering
• weighing
• pondering
• delaying
• shilly-shallying
• backing down
• dawdling
• considering
• procrastinating
• deliberating
• chickening (out)
• hawing
• hemming
• oscillating
• waffling
• equivocating
• hedging
• dallying
• pussyfooting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• plunging (in)
• diving (in)
• deciding
• stirring
• continuing
• advancing
• budging

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of staggering

Adjective

But the work is ongoing because the level of devastation is staggering. — Kirk Siegler, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026

Dinklage said the amount of money allegedly involved was staggering. — Bytony Atkins, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026

Verb

As the Transit officers descended down to the 4/5/6 platform, one of Griffin’s victims came staggering up the stairs, seeking medial attention, Tisch said. — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026

Instead of staggering the fests and conferences over nine or 11 days, everything is now crammed into the same seven-day period, including film and TV, education, comedy and tech. — Thor Christensen, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026