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
Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 29 May 2026
West Contra Costa Unified, the second largest of its 18 districts, is teetering.
—East Bay Times Editorial Board, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
The two met through the Silicon Valley web at the turn of the century, and soon Gracias—at 55, just one year older than Musk—lent Musk $1 million in his early days at Tesla, when the company was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 25 May 2026
But over the last few years, Buck said prices have soared, leaving the industry teetering on collapse.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2026
The game constantly felt on the edge, sometimes teetering over, from the first kick to the last.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Ransom said, throwing his hands up and teetering backward when the reporter asked him what the crash sounded like.
—Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 7 May 2026
But Church, undeterred, was drawn to the idea that those processes offered lessons in destruction and renewal which could be applied to a nation teetering on civil war.
—Sebastian Smee, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Soldier Boy is teetering on anti-hero this season.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
The economics are so unprecedented that Anthropic — which raised another $65 billion at a $965 valuation — seems to be teetering on the brink of either growing too fast, or too slowly.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 29 May 2026
West Contra Costa Unified, the second largest of its 18 districts, is teetering.
—East Bay Times Editorial Board, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
The two met through the Silicon Valley web at the turn of the century, and soon Gracias—at 55, just one year older than Musk—lent Musk $1 million in his early days at Tesla, when the company was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 25 May 2026
But over the last few years, Buck said prices have soared, leaving the industry teetering on collapse.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2026
The game constantly felt on the edge, sometimes teetering over, from the first kick to the last.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Ransom said, throwing his hands up and teetering backward when the reporter asked him what the crash sounded like.
—Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 7 May 2026
But Church, undeterred, was drawn to the idea that those processes offered lessons in destruction and renewal which could be applied to a nation teetering on civil war.
—Sebastian Smee, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Soldier Boy is teetering on anti-hero this season.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teetering
Adjective
-
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
-
After faltering in last year’s Div.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
-
But now, as the public understands the consequences of our faltering democracy, more people are talking about it, Drutman said.—
Mary Ellen Klas,
Mercury News,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
The works depicted broken figures staggering toward the viewer in ragged uniforms — in distorted sizes, giant hands and small heads.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
The works depicted broken figures staggering toward the viewer in ragged uniforms — in distorted sizes, giant hand and small heads.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The book does often feel like a recording of a mental jam session, but there is also a sense of being guided by a kind of hesitating yet urgent voice that needs to get things figured out.—
Craig Morgan Teicher,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
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While their rivals started spending significant sums of money as soon as the 2024-25 season finished, Spurs wasted a couple of weeks hesitating about the long-term future of then head coach Ange Postecoglou before replacing him with Thomas Frank.—
David Ornstein,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
For years, many of Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim minority have embarked on rickety wooden boats to try to reach neighbouring countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, in a bid to flee persecution in Myanmar or overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Your sunnies should be comfortable and durable, not rickety!—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
These are some of the heaviest grooves that Seefeel have created in ages, channeling lurching currents through intricate chains of dub delay.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
6 May 2026
-
The ladies haven’t had that problem, lurching out of the gate like the racehorses at Ascot.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
But while the budget is technically balanced, its foundation is precarious.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
-
Updates to Cap-and-Invest come at a precarious time for consumers.—
Rob Nikolewski,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Art schools, like all schools, are wobbling under the illogic of the cost-benefit math.—
Katy Siegel,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
Your calm precision can keep the whole plan from wobbling.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Teetering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teetering. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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