Synonyms of teeter

teeter

verb

ˈtē-tər 

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

• falter
• wobble
• tremble
• totter
• shake
• rock
• waver
• shudder
• vibrate
• lurch
• quiver
• stumble
• toddle
• flounder
• stagger
• quake
• reel
• weave
• quaver
• careen

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

• stagger
• lurch
• totter
• weave
• waddle
• careen
• reel
• roll
• shuffle
• stomp
• stumble
• rock
• sway
• waver
• dodder
• wobble
• seesaw
• clomp
• stamp
• flounder
• clump
• lump
• barge
• tramp
• pound
• shamble
• scuff
• blunder
• swag
• lumber
• galumph
• scuffle
• tromp

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

• hesitate
• falter
• vacillate
• waver
• stagger
• halt
• balance
• wobble
• dither
• hang back
• wait
• scruple
• debate
• linger
• sway
• pause
• ponder
• hem
• weigh
• haw
• oscillate
• shilly-shally
• procrastinate
• dawdle
• delay
• back down
• chicken (out)
• deliberate
• hedge
• consider
• equivocate
• waffle
• pussyfoot
• dally

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decide
• continue
• plunge (in)
• stir
• dive (in)
• budge
• advance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of teeter

While Berlin’s Tuttle teetered on the verge of being fired by the German government, which funds 40% of the event, Barbera came out of last year’s political polemics on the Lido unscathed. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026

The news shocked scientists and engineers across NASA missions, who were suddenly dealt a dose of uncertainty as their job security teetered in political limbo. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2026

And the Peaches and Pea, a drink that teeters on the edge of cloying, heavy-handed with peach oleo-saccharum. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

The Sky spent the last week teetering on the edge, racking up a few last-gasp wins to hold off the looming inevitability of their own elimination. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026