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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of teeter
This deepening also has an index in the formal features of his poetry—the ambiguity of his pronouns, the firm particularity of his register of images—which teeters between the mundane and the epiphanic, and renders this imbalance itself into view.
—
Elaine L. Wang
september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Sweet Martha’s cookies are baked to order, then served warm in precariously tall stacks, teetering out of a paper cup, or, better yet, the stand’s signature plastic bucket, which gets loaded with about four dozen cookies despite fitting only three dozen.
—Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
The three-month average of the prime-age employment-to-population ratio has been teetering around the current level, but the labor market has remained resilient.
—Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Despite the dramatic implications of the film’s title, Erupcja has a casual, slice-of-life vibe to it that prevents Bethany and Rob’s woes from teetering into melodrama.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for teeter
Elaine L. Wang
september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Sweet Martha’s cookies are baked to order, then served warm in precariously tall stacks, teetering out of a paper cup, or, better yet, the stand’s signature plastic bucket, which gets loaded with about four dozen cookies despite fitting only three dozen.
—Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
The three-month average of the prime-age employment-to-population ratio has been teetering around the current level, but the labor market has remained resilient.
—Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Despite the dramatic implications of the film’s title, Erupcja has a casual, slice-of-life vibe to it that prevents Bethany and Rob’s woes from teetering into melodrama.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for teeter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teeter
Verb
-
As others faltered, a 3-0 win against Bristol Academy meant Liverpool retained the title, beating Chelsea on goal difference.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Coals to Newcastle Mauriss emerged as a surprise contender to acquire Newcastle United in 2019, just as a controversial takeover bid by a Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF)-led consortium began to falter.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Wounded by multiple gunshots, Barron staggered a little more than 17 feet away from his truck and from Maltos and Olvera, documents said.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Things looked less promising three weeks ago as the Mariners staggered through their second three-city East Coast trip in a month.—
Tyler Kepner,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Bold moves set you apart, so don’t hesitate to show the world what you’re made of.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
21 Sep. 2025
-
When asked about her biggest takeaway from her ex-captain's career, Korda didn't hesitate.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Part of the pleasure is how the rayographs wobble between metaphor and utensil, abstraction and figuration.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
23 Sep. 2025
-
The rotating fan clicked, wobbled, and turned the other way.—
Lauren Rothery,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The administration’s lurching one way and another with tariffs is another example.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
20 Sep. 2025
-
His mother has since said her son's views lurched left in recent years.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Trump has just vacillated hardest in Kyiv’s favour.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Pearl, Dale’s adult daughter, vacillates between disbelieving that her father committed suicide and blaming her mother for it.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In the elevator of the Associated Press Building at Rockefeller Plaza, Sunny’s brows trembled.—
Kiran Desai,
New Yorker,
3 Aug. 2025
-
But then the cheers from his fans would begin, and Hogan would tremble with energy.—
John DeVore,
Rolling Stone,
26 July 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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 29 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share