Synonyms of teeters

teeters

verb

present tense third-person singular of teeter

1

as in falters

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

• falters
• wobbles
• trembles
• totters
• rocks
• shakes
• wavers
• lurches
• shudders
• vibrates
• quivers
• stumbles
• staggers
• toddles
• flounders
• reels
• weaves
• careens
• quavers
• quakes

2

as in staggers

to move forward while swaying from side to side

the toddler teetered down the rink in her new ice skates

Synonyms & Similar Words

• staggers
• lurches
• totters
• weaves
• careens
• waddles
• shuffles
• stomps
• stumbles
• reels
• rolls
• rocks
• sways
• dodders
• wavers
• wobbles
• seesaws
• flounders
• clomps
• barges
• clumps
• shambles
• lumbers
• stamps
• pounds
• swags
• blunders
• lumps
• tramps
• scuffs
• tromps
• scuffles
• galumphs

3

as in hesitates

to show uncertainty about the right course of action

was teetering on the brink of making a decision about college

Synonyms & Similar Words

• falters
• hesitates
• vacillates
• staggers
• wavers
• halts
• dithers
• balances
• waits
• wobbles
• sways
• debates
• lingers
• hangs back
• pauses
• scruples
• ponders
• weighs
• dawdles
• oscillates
• procrastinates
• deliberates
• hems
• haws
• chickens (out)
• shilly-shallies
• considers
• backs down
• dallies
• delays
• equivocates
• hedges
• waffles
• pussyfoots

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decides
• plunges (in)
• dives (in)
• continues
• stirs
• advances
• budges

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of teeters

The new series teeters on a bipartisan ledge, carefully including conversations with political figures like former vice presidents Kamala Harris, Mike Pence, Al Gore; former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Republican Senator Ted Cruz. — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 24 June 2026

The story teeters on implausibility in turn after turn. — Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 9 June 2026

There's an undeniable allure to the pale yellow shade, a saccharine hue that teeters the line on both mellow and bright. — Emily Kelleher, InStyle, 28 May 2026

Everything teeters on the verge of going bad, and weekend plans often get in the way of cooking through them. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2026

Alongside organist Ståle Storløkken and drummer Ole Mofjell, the Hedvig Mollestad Weejuns (the third word a slang term for Norwegians) form a groove that teeters toward explosiveness without ever reaching it. — Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 24 Apr. 2026

For the first time ever my weight now teeters at the tippy, tippy top of that green zone. — Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 16 Apr. 2026

But as the region teeters on the brink of a new and dangerous escalation, yet more negative consequences – like the evils that escaped Pandora’s box – could soon be unleashed. — Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026

The country’s already cratering economy now teeters on the verge of collapse, with vehicles idled by a lack of gas, hospitals forced to cancel surgeries and millions living without a steady supply of electricity and water. — Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2026