as in tottering
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1
as in faltering
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
2
as in staggering
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 hesitating
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
was teetering on the brink of making a decision about college
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of teetering
Fred Imbert, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2025
While official figures show America's economy growing at a robust pace, a number of states are currently teetering on the edge of an economic downturn, according to Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
To watch this film is to be fully immersed in a learning experience, while teetering on the edge of your seat, with your heart in your mouth.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
The recent protein hubbub is teetering on overblown—not every snack food needs to be jacked up with the stuff.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 8 Oct. 2025
Completely outplayed by the Brewers thus far in a National League Division Series, the Cubs are teetering on the brink of elimination after Monday night’s 7-3 loss at American Family Field.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Sweet Martha’s cookies are baked to order, then served warm in precariously tall stacks, teetering out of a paper cup, or, better yet, the stand’s signature plastic bucket, which gets loaded with about four dozen cookies despite fitting only three dozen.
—Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
The three-month average of the prime-age employment-to-population ratio has been teetering around the current level, but the labor market has remained resilient.
—Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Despite the dramatic implications of the film’s title, Erupcja has a casual, slice-of-life vibe to it that prevents Bethany and Rob’s woes from teetering into melodrama.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
The cases are rare because typically the Fed cuts rates to boost a weakening economy that’s teetering on a recession and already hitting the stock market.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2025
While official figures show America's economy growing at a robust pace, a number of states are currently teetering on the edge of an economic downturn, according to Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
To watch this film is to be fully immersed in a learning experience, while teetering on the edge of your seat, with your heart in your mouth.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
The recent protein hubbub is teetering on overblown—not every snack food needs to be jacked up with the stuff.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 8 Oct. 2025
Completely outplayed by the Brewers thus far in a National League Division Series, the Cubs are teetering on the brink of elimination after Monday night’s 7-3 loss at American Family Field.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Sweet Martha’s cookies are baked to order, then served warm in precariously tall stacks, teetering out of a paper cup, or, better yet, the stand’s signature plastic bucket, which gets loaded with about four dozen cookies despite fitting only three dozen.
—Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
The three-month average of the prime-age employment-to-population ratio has been teetering around the current level, but the labor market has remained resilient.
—Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Despite the dramatic implications of the film’s title, Erupcja has a casual, slice-of-life vibe to it that prevents Bethany and Rob’s woes from teetering into melodrama.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teetering
Adjective
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Neither of them understands the other’s dynamic with Daniel, and the split-episode format keeps our sympathies teeter-tottering between each woman.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That reinforced the idea that inflation concerns should take a backseat to worries about faltering job growth.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
29 Oct. 2025
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After faltering in the semifinals of the 2024 WNBA playoffs, Wilson and the Aces capped off a dominant postseason run Friday by sweeping the Phoenix Mercury with a 97-86 win.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Cheng likes to build muni bond ladders, which means staggering the maturity dates of multiple bonds.—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
29 Oct. 2025
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To get through the season and the playoffs, staggering the minutes of Green and Horford is logical, even with Quintin Post picking up some center minutes.—
Jannelle Moore,
Mercury News,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Chamandy said that, because of the ambiguity associated with the tariffs, companies are still hesitating to change suppliers until the dust settles.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
3 Nov. 2025
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For now, Ian’s hesitating to tell Mike.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Everything looks so rickety — this stadium wasn’t built for pandemonium like this.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
15 Aug. 2025
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Griff's was a cozy space inside with a small, rickety wooden patio in the front and a larger one in the back.—
Brianna Griff,
Chron,
13 Jan. 2023
Verb
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Back then, Newcastle’s thin squad staggered between results, lurching from challenging the best sides in the league to befuddling losses to inferior squads.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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The administration’s lurching one way and another with tariffs is another example.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Jekalyn x The Legends arrives amid a precarious period for gospel music, especially considering five-time Grammy winner Chandler Moore’s bombshell exit from Maverick City Music and the top-selling group’s co-founder’s recent controversial comments.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
6 Nov. 2025
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It’s been precarious the whole time.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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La Niña sets the stage by keeping moisture available, while the easterly QBO can trigger a wobbling polar vortex that pushes Arctic cold southward.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Freep.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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Trips to Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur will be challenging, but the team are getting better at wobbling without falling over.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Teetering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teetering. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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