TEETER Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

teeter

verb

ˈtē-tər

Definition of teeter

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

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

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 Les Lions had underperformed in the group stage, teetering on the verge of elimination. — Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 6 July 2026 Among the biggest beneficiaries have been puffins, whose population has grown from just 13 birds in 2000 to 1,335 in 2026 after teetering on the brink of local extinction. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026 The new series teeters on a bipartisan ledge, carefully including conversations with political figures like former vice presidents Kamala Harris, Mike Pence, Al Gore; former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Republican Senator Ted Cruz. — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 24 June 2026 And although their brand of comedy teetered on the absurd, the Duncans eventually became about as familiar as the Matthews. — Christian Holub, Entertainment Weekly, 21 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for teeter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for teeter

Verb

For example, a manufacturer drowning in unplanned downtime deployed an AI agent to dispatch maintenance the moment a machine faltered.

— Sanjay Brahmawar, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
The boy was burly and had a remarkable strength and energy that stayed throughout his life, only faltering in the very last throes of death.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026

Definition of falter

Verb

The American staggered out of the gates at Royal Portrush last year to an opening 78, but played the final three rounds in a blazing 16-under-par.

— Justin Ray, New York Times, 18 July 2026
Employers staggered work schedules, commuters mapped alternate routes and many residents avoided the city altogether.

— Andrea Clement, AJC.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of stagger

Verb

And a new cast of Osage and Black supporting characters have come to wobble the thrive-in-isolation narrative.

— Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
The structure beneath Klopp wobbled, and Liverpool bounced between sporting directors — one of whom, Jorg Schmadtke, Klopp was allowed to source himself.

— James Pearce, New York Times, 15 July 2026

Definition of wobble

Verb

The statue is dragged via ropes by grunting Trojans before being lurched upright against a sacred temple, once again jostling those inside.

— David Mack, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
Adams’ shoulders lurched on the bench, while Richards fell to his knees, dug his afro into the grass, and closed his eyes in pain.

— Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 7 July 2026

Definition of lurch

Verb

Then, as Bowman contemplated his future throughout the season, vacillating between retiring at the end of this season or next, the notion that Zilisch could replace him picked up steady traction through the summer.

— Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 23 July 2026
Waddingham and Spencer appear in almost every scene, which vacillate between action, comedy and drama.

— Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026

Definition of vacillate

Verb

Outside, a gull tottered to the window and tapped its beak against the glass.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
Among them a City boy wearing three Fit-Bit-type devices, two beautiful Middle Eastern sisters, an outrageously pompous elderly American (sorry; eavesdropping), and several Imelda Marcos lookalikes, tottering out of the treatment rooms with, somehow, their elaborate hairstyles still intact.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

Definition of totter

Browse Nearby Words

tees off

teeter

teetered

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Teeter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teeter. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of teeter

verb

Example Sentences

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