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
Now, even that tiny effort is tottering.
—
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2026
Women often totter along a delicate line between beauty and torture, femininity and the bondage of expectation.
—
Jane Wooldridge,
Miami Herald,
7 Dec. 2025
But The Gilded Age doesn’t do pure villains with its main cast, and Oscar totters between failson and tragic figure, the closeted heir of the Van Rhijn family dragged to hell and back after being defrauded of his mother’s fortune.
—
Kathryn Vanarendonk,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
On the floor, waist-high piles of books tottered like miniature leaning towers of Pisa.
—
The Christian Science Monitor,
Christian Science Monitor,
12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for totter
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2026
Women often totter along a delicate line between beauty and torture, femininity and the bondage of expectation.
—
Jane Wooldridge,
Miami Herald,
7 Dec. 2025
But The Gilded Age doesn’t do pure villains with its main cast, and Oscar totters between failson and tragic figure, the closeted heir of the Van Rhijn family dragged to hell and back after being defrauded of his mother’s fortune.
—
Kathryn Vanarendonk,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
On the floor, waist-high piles of books tottered like miniature leaning towers of Pisa.
—
The Christian Science Monitor,
Christian Science Monitor,
12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for totter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for totter
Verb
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Steely and deliberate songwriting that casually staggers down the line between rhythm and melody, laced with loose yet conscious jams.
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To ensure Miami 305 can still meet the league's minimum roster requirements, the suspensions will be staggered.
Verb
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Brazobán faltered, however, allowing a walk and two hits, the last of which being a two-out RBI single by Trae Turner that put the Phillies up, 2-1.
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Can Andy Burnham make the tough choices to succeed where others have faltered?
Verb
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The old guard of the Democratic Party suffered another body blow when three socialist congressional candidates in New York with anti-Israel platforms swept to victory, lurching the party even further to the left.
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Initial data indicates both of these earthquakes were strike-slip, Magnani said, meaning one plate lurched past the other along the boundary.
Verb
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Each time the leaves trembled, the sunlight filtering through them also wavered.
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Logic, curated by decades of precedent, suggested the 22-year-old might tremble at the growl of the aggressive, experienced Wolves.
Verb
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The early goal from Germany was a bit demoralizing for the South American team, but Nilson Angulo was able to shake it off with a beautiful shot in the ninth minute to equalize.
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Any worries about complacency were wiped away in the third minute when Auston Trusty fired home the opening goal and caused the stands at SoFi Stadium to shake (literally) with the noise and jumping fans.
Verb
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But things are starting to wobble.
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Suddenly, the tent jerked and wobbled.
Cite this Entry
“Totter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/totter. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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