1
as in to falter
to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side
he nervously teetered at the edge of the pool before finally diving in
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to stagger
to move forward while swaying from side to side
the toddler teetered down the rink in her new ice skates
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to hesitate
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
was teetering on the brink of making a decision about college
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of teeter
Advertisement On trade, the world is teetering on the edge of a precipice.
—
Charles A. Kupchan, Time, 14 June 2025
Donald Trump’s administration is teetering on the precipice of another constitutional crisis with the courts that has been prompted by a single rogue district judge.
—The Editors, National Review, 9 July 2025
There have been notable moments when the Yankees were rolling and the Mets were teetering on the fringes of mediocrity or outright experiencing a nightmare season.
—Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
At the same time, theaters (at least the ones that aren’t teetering on the verge of collapse) have outfitted their locations with better food and cocktails.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for teeter
Charles A. Kupchan, Time, 14 June 2025
Donald Trump’s administration is teetering on the precipice of another constitutional crisis with the courts that has been prompted by a single rogue district judge.
—The Editors, National Review, 9 July 2025
There have been notable moments when the Yankees were rolling and the Mets were teetering on the fringes of mediocrity or outright experiencing a nightmare season.
—Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
At the same time, theaters (at least the ones that aren’t teetering on the verge of collapse) have outfitted their locations with better food and cocktails.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for teeter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teeter
Verb
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After Democrats took control of the Senate in 2021 with President Joe Biden in the White House, efforts to address the cap again faltered, despite efforts by Pritzker and other Democratic governors who wrote Biden a letter that spring calling for it to be eliminated.—
Dan Petrella,
Chicago Tribune,
28 July 2025
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Trump's ratings on some of the most significant issues facing the country also faltered, according to Gallup pollsters.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
27 July 2025
Verb
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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,
ABC News,
4 July 2025
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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
Verb
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But in volatile and uncertain times, many leaders hesitate to act, and others simply freeze up.—
Harvard Business Review,
Harvard Business Review,
31 July 2025
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If you’re selected for an interview, don’t hesitate to ask the hiring manager whether a degree is truly required or if relevant experience counts.—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr,
USA Today,
29 July 2025
Verb
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Non-doms' recent exodus from the U.K. has caused London's luxury home market to wobble, with sales and prices falling in recent months.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 July 2025
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Thanks to the off-road suspension innovations of TOTAL CHAOS, the footage didn’t wobble a bit—not even at 70 miles per hour.—
Kristin Shaw,
Popular Science,
31 July 2025
Verb
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But that’s not enough opposition to stop CPS from lurching substantially further toward insolvency if Harden and interim school Superintendent Macquline King choose that route.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
25 July 2025
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Like Germany after the defeat of Hitler, Argentina lurched back and forth between judging its past crimes and trying to move beyond them.—
Julia M. Klein,
The Atlantic,
11 July 2025
Verb
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Over the next 15 minutes, the ship vacillated between stability and a list to port, with water accumulating on the port deck.—
Michael Peregrine,
Chicago Tribune,
24 July 2025
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For decades, bohemian style vacillated in the fashion world as an aesthetic and style inspiration.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
22 July 2025
Verb
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The word originally referred to trembling from fear or cold, and later came to describe earth tremors (as in earthquake).—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
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The cobwebs under the jarrah tremble in the hot breeze; there are no beetles snagged in the webs today to rescue.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 July 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
Cite this Entry
“Teeter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teeter. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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