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
After the leader of the Labour Party in Scotland joined those calls earlier this month, Starmer’s chief of staff and communications director quit, and his premiership teetered on the brink.
—
ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026
For a species that once teetered on the very edge of extinction, every healthy young wombat caught on camera represents a quiet but powerful victory.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Dent and Booker were failing to turn their fate as UCLA teetered on the bubble in desperate need of a significant victory.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
Since then, employment has teetered down in some months and up in others.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Feb. 2026
Turkey’s inflation soared past 80%, the lira collapsed against the dollar and the economy teetered on the edge of catastrophe.
—Frank Holmes, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The owner of a San Jose apartment complex that has teetered on the brink of foreclosure has filed for bankruptcy in a move that is poised to delay an auction of the property.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
As the years went on, his career teetered on the mainstream, opening for Nine Inch Nails on tour and collaborating with FKA Twigs and the Weeknd.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 5 Jan. 2026
In the last gallery, a magnificent black spider teetered on steel talons.
—Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026
For a species that once teetered on the very edge of extinction, every healthy young wombat caught on camera represents a quiet but powerful victory.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Dent and Booker were failing to turn their fate as UCLA teetered on the bubble in desperate need of a significant victory.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
Since then, employment has teetered down in some months and up in others.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Feb. 2026
Turkey’s inflation soared past 80%, the lira collapsed against the dollar and the economy teetered on the edge of catastrophe.
—Frank Holmes, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The owner of a San Jose apartment complex that has teetered on the brink of foreclosure has filed for bankruptcy in a move that is poised to delay an auction of the property.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
As the years went on, his career teetered on the mainstream, opening for Nine Inch Nails on tour and collaborating with FKA Twigs and the Weeknd.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 5 Jan. 2026
In the last gallery, a magnificent black spider teetered on steel talons.
—Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teetered
Verb
-
Mizzou was successful early but faltered late before hanging on.—
Joseph Pastilha,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
-
For all of her dominance across Alpine skiing, in recent years Shiffrin had faltered on the sport’s biggest stage.—
The Sports Desk,
NBC news,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The big polar bear lurched forward, hitting top speed in two strides.—
Scott Haugen,
Outdoor Life,
4 Feb. 2026
-
As Matt Woosnam reflected recently, the Premier League’s feel-good story has lurched into night terrors.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Then the Canadian hesitated, ever so slightly.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Jackson hesitated — the job required him to leave the seminary six months short of graduation.—
Johanna Neuman,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In a new interview, the model and reality TV personality reflects on the often-meme'd moment from 2010's cycle 14, which saw Tyra Banks' cast of model hopefuls dodge the menacing pendulums that wobbled back and forth as contestants navigated the runway.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The stock wobbled for a few days immediately after the report but then rose sharply, from about $6 per share to $15 per share by the end of May 2025.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Here, the blade tips are staggered so that a following rotor blade does not intersect the vortex generated by the one ahead of it, reducing noise and vibration.—
David Szondy
February 24,
New Atlas,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Trotsky staggered out of the study in the other direction.—
Josh Ireland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The pair waited until Hinojosa hit the sidewalk outside the property, shook her hand and then asked for selfies.—
Karen Brooks Harper
Austin Bureau,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Emma shook her head and busied herself with picking up her waders.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The seemingly quaint and cordial sport of curling was rocked by cheating allegations during the Winter Games.—
Sallee Ann Harrison,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Feb. 2026
-
That striped, halo hair that figure skater Alysa Liu rocked while winning Olympic gold in Milan?—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
People shuddered at the sight of it, or groaned, or covered their eyes.—
Sam Kriss,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Karen Powers shuddered at what the adjuster said next, Shaun Powers said.—
J.C. Hallman,
Oklahoman,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Teetered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teetered. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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