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
The notion of athletic eligibility has already been teetering.
—
Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 June 2025
In order to retrieve the original source code of the Entity and destroy it, Hunt has to risk life and limb and dive into icy arctic waters to a sunken Soviet submarine teetering 500 feet underwater.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 15 May 2025
The Knicks just took a 28 percent cut on their local media rights fees from MSG Networks — despite both being run by James Dolan — as the RSN teetered on the brink of bankruptcy while re-negotiating more than $800 million in debt that had come due.
—Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 18 June 2025
The Iranian regime is teetering on the brink of collapse.
—FOXNews.com, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for teeter
Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 June 2025
In order to retrieve the original source code of the Entity and destroy it, Hunt has to risk life and limb and dive into icy arctic waters to a sunken Soviet submarine teetering 500 feet underwater.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 15 May 2025
The Knicks just took a 28 percent cut on their local media rights fees from MSG Networks — despite both being run by James Dolan — as the RSN teetered on the brink of bankruptcy while re-negotiating more than $800 million in debt that had come due.
—Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 18 June 2025
The Iranian regime is teetering on the brink of collapse.
—FOXNews.com, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for teeter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teeter
Verb
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And then, if the team falters, dumping before the Aug. 31 deadline for players to be eligible for postseason rosters?—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
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Even high-performing teams can falter under the burden of shifting priorities and misaligned goals.—
Rahul Karan Sharma,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Verb
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Elena Guseva’s soprano staggers in its power and control, retaining its hue even at lofty peaks.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
20 June 2025
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Mayors are elected by council members who have staggered four-year terms and are elected by citizens.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
19 June 2025
Verb
-
If the emotional impact of hair loss feels overwhelming, don’t hesitate to ask for support.—
Health,
Health,
26 June 2025
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Seize Market Share When Competitors Retreat Expand globally when trends align and others hesitate.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
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Then the steering wheel wobbled momentarily, and instead of turning it proceeded straight into the lane meant for oncoming traffic, prompting a honk from a car behind it.—
Abhirup Roy,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
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Since there are only two points of contact with the ground, the statues eventually begin to wobble.—
Paul Nicolaus,
Smithsonian Magazine,
26 June 2025
Verb
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The world is lurching toward autocracy, with alarming speed.—
Elisa Manfredini,
Time,
14 June 2025
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In the final moments, Molly lurches forward into this brave new world, with nothing but the overalls on her back and her best friend who can barely start her car.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
9 June 2025
Verb
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Since then, tariff rates have vacillated quite a bit as negotiations with trading partners continued.—
Mike Patton,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
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As the hours ticked by on Friday, reactions in Israel vacillated between extremes.—
Ruth Margalit,
New Yorker,
13 June 2025
Verb
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As Sofia unfolded the pages during her graduation celebration, her voice trembled.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
18 June 2025
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Already nervous and trembling, Wood captures the terror and claustrophobia of having your head clamped in place and one eye pried open with a speculum.—
Gayle Sequeira,
Vulture,
16 May 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 3 Jul. 2025.
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