1
as in faltered
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 lurched
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 hesitated
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 teetered
During the financial crisis in 2009, Detroit’s unemployment rate skyrocketed to 29% as the auto industry teetered on the brink of collapse.
—
Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
Since 2009, Cupertino’s homelessness count has teetered back and forth, reaching a high of 159 in 2019.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
New York teetered on the edge of bankruptcy - the city shuttered more than a dozen firehouses, teachers went on strike and garbage piled up in the streets.
—NPR, 15 Oct. 2025
The two boxers teetered against each other, exhausted, until Padilla stepped in again, pulling Ali’s gloves off the back of Frazier’s neck.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
The original Sex and the City boasted one of the best foursomes in TV history, with Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha’s wildly different personalities perfectly balancing each other out — and once Samantha was removed, the whole show teetered unsteadily like a table missing a leg.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 14 Aug. 2025
Shares of both stocks teetered on Tuesday before closing slightly higher.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2025
Violeta was on her mobility scooter, and Julia teetered on Jay’s arm.
—Bridget Read, Curbed, 18 Dec. 2024
Gabby Barrett also teetered on the line, with plans to double down even further.
—Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2024
Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
Since 2009, Cupertino’s homelessness count has teetered back and forth, reaching a high of 159 in 2019.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
New York teetered on the edge of bankruptcy - the city shuttered more than a dozen firehouses, teachers went on strike and garbage piled up in the streets.
—NPR, 15 Oct. 2025
The two boxers teetered against each other, exhausted, until Padilla stepped in again, pulling Ali’s gloves off the back of Frazier’s neck.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
The original Sex and the City boasted one of the best foursomes in TV history, with Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha’s wildly different personalities perfectly balancing each other out — and once Samantha was removed, the whole show teetered unsteadily like a table missing a leg.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 14 Aug. 2025
Shares of both stocks teetered on Tuesday before closing slightly higher.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2025
Violeta was on her mobility scooter, and Julia teetered on Jay’s arm.
—Bridget Read, Curbed, 18 Dec. 2024
Gabby Barrett also teetered on the line, with plans to double down even further.
—Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teetered
Verb
-
Negotiations over the subsidies, a Biden-era benefit that lapsed at the end of 2025, have faltered once before and were at the center of a 43-day government shutdown last year, the longest on record.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The Chiefs were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs last month, as the once-dominant team led by Kelce and quarterback Patrick Mahomes faltered in close games throughout the year.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The relentless Chacon lurched outside after her just as his car door opened and out popped their 6-year-old son, begging his dad to stop.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
New year optimism was certainly in short supply inside Anfield as the mood lurched from restlessness to exasperation and then anger.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The woman hesitated at first but then let Sylvain into her apartment.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Jan. 2026
-
Sanchez hesitated at first about the idea of being on camera, but his loyalty to Gutiérrez proved stronger than the reservations.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Many have been subject to rising costs as supply chains have wobbled during the Russian war in the Ukraine.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The peso had wobbled in recent days after a regional election spurred fears Milei would underperform in the midterm vote, prompting a $20 billion bailout promise from the US, which sees him as an ally.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Board members will serve for four years, but the inaugural board will include some two-year appointments so terms are staggered.—
Nick Sullivan,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Its board of directors has six seats, with elections staggered so that half of the board turns over at a time.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
And Tagovailoa shook off that early interception with a 9-yard scoring pass to Malik Washington — capping a ferocious seven-minute, 92-yard drive — and then a 38-yard TD strike to Jaylen Waddle.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Miller finished with 129 yards on 18 carries, while Jayden Maiava shook off a poor day throwing the ball with 62 yards and a touchdown on 11 attempts.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Pamela Anderson has rocked a bob for some time now, but her latest 'do includes pops of pastel pink.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
-
That’s a huge decline from the 125 homicides that rocked the city in 2023.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Earth shuddered with yet another wave of extinctions in this initial chill.—
Peter Brannen,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
-
For much of last season, Atletico appeared set to seriously compete on all fronts, but their season shuddered to a stop in March with a series of disappointing defeats by Barcelona and Madrid across La Liga, Copa del Rey and the Champions League.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Teetered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teetered. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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