1
as in staggered
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 faltered
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 Synonyms for tottered
Verb
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To ensure Miami 305 can still meet the league's minimum roster requirements, the suspensions will be staggered.
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In exchange for taking these steps, Iran would receive financial relief staggered over time and sequenced to correspond with compliance.
Verb
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When Johnson faltered, Clark had plenty of breathing room — and a quick turnaround.
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Still up seven games in the NL East, the Braves (46-27) are in an offensive funk over the past week, and the team’s good starting pitching has faltered some.
Verb
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Latin America has lurched rightward in recent elections, as governments scramble to curtail violence stemming from record cocaine production.
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As the carriage lurched forward, the teen’s mother fell from the vehicle, prompting Romanch Mahajan to jump out in an effort to help her, The Times reported.
Verb
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Suddenly, the tent jerked and wobbled.
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Sunny Side of the Doc may have wobbled after its 36th edition.
Verb
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The catastrophic part of the book is shockingly witty and beautiful, but the first part shook me even more.
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Some shook their head when they were first handed the headsets.
Verb
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Emir Caner led the small Baptist college for 17 years until he was removed last year as a former student and staff member’s story of abuse rocked its campus in the Georgia foothills.
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In a scandal that rocked the business, Davis was fired from Columbia in May 1973, accused of defrauding the company of $94,000 in expense-account violations, including paying for his son Fred’s bar mitzvah and a renovation of his apartment.
Verb
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The way the stadium shuddered with noise.
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At least the elevator still creaked and shuddered, as in the old days, finally trembling open on the eighth floor.
Cite this Entry
“Tottered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tottered. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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