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 tottered
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
The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 12 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tottered
Verb
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The prospect of talks appeared to bolster the tentative ceasefire in the Iran war that has staggered under the weight of Israel’s bombardment of Beirut, Tehran’s continued chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz and uncertainty over whether talks can find common ground.—
Jon Gambrell,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Knueppel staggered, but didn’t fall.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Their arrival comes after the team’s bullpen faltered twice in the late innings over the weekend in Cincinnati’s series sweep.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
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The Red Sox ace faltered early by allowing a couple of doubles, but from there the left-hander settled down and seemed to find his groove.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Don’t gag, don’t cry — and my stomach lurched.—
Kate Crane,
Rolling Stone,
2 Apr. 2026
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Since then, the larger culture has lurched rightward, with big corporations abandoning progressive signaling in favor of…other priorities.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Market wobbled, then rallied on signals that Tehran might still want to talk, with investors assessing the blockade as brinkmanship as expectations for a possible deal rise.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2026
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As enrollment has wobbled, tuition has increased.—
State House News Service,
Boston Herald,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The pair shook hands and shared some laughs with those waiting in line to see them.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
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Bennedict Mathurin shook off his recent slump to score a team-high 20 points to go with nine rebounds and eight assists.—
Janis Carr,
Daily News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Bruins rocked the orange carpet and then waited with UCLA coach Cori Close and their families to learn their draft fate.—
Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
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Your world is about to be rocked by these popular chocolates.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At least the elevator still creaked and shuddered, as in the old days, finally trembling open on the eighth floor.—
Rick Bragg,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2026
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Later, when Tristan gently put his hand on Marke’s shoulder, the king shuddered.—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tottered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tottered. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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