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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tottered
Verb
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Board members will serve for four years, but the inaugural board will include some two-year appointments so terms are staggered.—
Nick Sullivan,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Nov. 2025 -
Its board of directors has six seats, with elections staggered so that half of the board turns over at a time.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Negotiations over the subsidies, a Biden-era benefit that lapsed at the end of 2025, have faltered once before and were at the center of a 43-day government shutdown last year, the longest on record.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Jan. 2026
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The Chiefs were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs last month, as the once-dominant team led by Kelce and quarterback Patrick Mahomes faltered in close games throughout the year.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The relentless Chacon lurched outside after her just as his car door opened and out popped their 6-year-old son, begging his dad to stop.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
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New year optimism was certainly in short supply inside Anfield as the mood lurched from restlessness to exasperation and then anger.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Many have been subject to rising costs as supply chains have wobbled during the Russian war in the Ukraine.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
30 Oct. 2025
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The peso had wobbled in recent days after a regional election spurred fears Milei would underperform in the midterm vote, prompting a $20 billion bailout promise from the US, which sees him as an ally.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And Tagovailoa shook off that early interception with a 9-yard scoring pass to Malik Washington — capping a ferocious seven-minute, 92-yard drive — and then a 38-yard TD strike to Jaylen Waddle.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
9 Nov. 2025
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Miller finished with 129 yards on 18 carries, while Jayden Maiava shook off a poor day throwing the ball with 62 yards and a touchdown on 11 attempts.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The shooting rocked the community and drew national attention to the question of how such a young child could commit such an act of violence.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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The New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts rocked the NFL world on Tuesday when the teams worked out a massive trade deal just hours before the NFL's trade deadline.—
Anne Erickson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Earth shuddered with yet another wave of extinctions in this initial chill.—
Peter Brannen,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
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For much of last season, Atletico appeared set to seriously compete on all fronts, but their season shuddered to a stop in March with a series of disappointing defeats by Barcelona and Madrid across La Liga, Copa del Rey and the Champions League.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Tottered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tottered. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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