1
as in to stagger
to move forward while swaying from side to side
tottered around the house as she practiced walking in high heels
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to falter
to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side
the figurine tottered precariously for a moment before falling off the shelf
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of totter
Buruma has much to say about the shifting sands of loyalties as the Nazi and Japanese empires collapsed and the dominions of the old European imperialist powers tottered.
—
Max Hastings, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2013
The result would be that incumbents would lag, populists would surge, and democratic institutions would totter.
—Moisés Naím, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2025
The country’s economy is tottering and reliant on IMF bailouts, while the powerful military is entrenched in every aspect of life, according to its critics.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025
If the bottom falls out of, say, the Chinese real-estate market—among the largest asset classes in the world—the entire global economy could totter.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for totter
Max Hastings, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2013
The result would be that incumbents would lag, populists would surge, and democratic institutions would totter.
—Moisés Naím, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2025
The country’s economy is tottering and reliant on IMF bailouts, while the powerful military is entrenched in every aspect of life, according to its critics.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025
If the bottom falls out of, say, the Chinese real-estate market—among the largest asset classes in the world—the entire global economy could totter.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for totter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for totter
Verb
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Sheriff’s officials said a man was stabbed multiple times, and the wounded man staggered into a nearby church.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
28 June 2025
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According to The Guardian, more disturbing videos emerged, from Ford allegedly staggering around a room and ranting about killing someone to him calling the city police chief a derogatory name and attempting a Jamaican accent.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
22 June 2025
Verb
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Here are a few more takeaways from Monday’s game: Michael Wacha falters late Wacha had trouble navigating the Mariners’ lineup.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
1 July 2025
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When corporate processes eclipse the culture, ventures almost inevitably falter.—
Jennifer J. Fondrevay,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Verb
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On June 18th, the Karen Read saga finally lurched to its inevitable end, when a Norfolk County jury, assigned the unenviable task of spending spring and early summer watching corruption theater in Dedham court, acquitted Ms. Read of all the serious charges against her.—
Tom Blakely,
Boston Herald,
27 June 2025
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More to come on this one as the American media M&A space makes another lurch forwards.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
13 June 2025
Verb
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Wires were seen submerged in pooling water across the floor and high winds made the floor and walls of the facility’s tents tremble, reporter video from CNN affiliate Spectrum News 13 showed.—
Devon M. Sayers,
CNN Money,
3 July 2025
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The sound is electronic and rhythmically driven; the singing trembles with desire and confusion.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
27 June 2025
Verb
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If not for his defensive deterrence, the Heat may not have regained their defensive stride after the team was wobbled by Butler’s indifference prior to his parting.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
8 July 2025
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Mariners reliever Trent Thornton wobbled on the mound with one out in the eighth.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2025
Verb
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But the humble protein powerhouse has never seemed to be able to shake the bad reputation.—
Margaux Anbouba,
Vogue,
1 July 2025
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The earth begins to shake as the animals, each one a small tank of muscle, thunder along the route at speeds of up to 20 miles an hour, scattering runners.—
Tony Perrottet,
Smithsonian Magazine,
30 June 2025
Verb
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Soon, as orders poured in, Spencer was in a pizza-making frenzy, putting them in the oven, removing and slicing them with a rocking pizza cutter, and boxing them.—
John Tuohy,
IndyStar,
11 July 2025
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But Alcaraz collected the next four points by forcing mistakes by Fritz to finish off the win, then rocked back on his heels, spread his arms wide and screamed.—
Howard Fendrich,
Chicago Tribune,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Totter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/totter. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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