tottered

verb

past tense of totter
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tottered Outside, a gull tottered to the window and tapped its beak against the glass. — Literary Hub, 13 July 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tottered
  1. staggered
  2. faltered
  3. lurched
  4. wobbled
  5. shook
  6. rocked
  7. shuddered
Verb
  • The political crisis has meant that legislative elections, originally scheduled for July 27, have now been staggered into three separate days over a period of two weeks.
    — Hasan Ali, Christian Science Monitor, 26 July 2026
  • The American staggered out of the gates at Royal Portrush last year to an opening 78, but played the final three rounds in a blazing 16-under-par.
    — Justin Ray, New York Times, 18 July 2026
Definition of staggered
Verb
  • At the same time, an already untenable diplomatic effort to end the war has faltered once again as mistrust deepens between the longtime adversaries.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026
  • Even as broader tech names and momentum plays have faltered, Apple has hit new all-time highs.
    — Michael Khouw, CNBC, 29 July 2026
Definition of faltered
Verb
  • For example, New York endured weather whiplash on July 18 as the city lurched from a heat wave and smoke pollution from Canadian wildfires to flash flooding from slow-moving thunderstorms that dumped a few inches of rain in a short period of time.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
  • There are vivid characters—the rich, distinguished crook Brandon, the platinum-blond secretary Miss Vermilyea; Javonen, ex-military intelligence, and seedy private eye from Kansas, Noble, who might have lurched out of an early Graham Greene story.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
Definition of lurched
Verb
  • The structure beneath Klopp wobbled, and Liverpool bounced between sporting directors — one of whom, Jorg Schmadtke, Klopp was allowed to source himself.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 15 July 2026
  • Healthcare is a classic defensive sector, so as the AI trade wobbled and investors booked profits in first-half winners, more money flowed in the direction of companies like J & J, Cardinal and our other Club healthcare name Eli Lilly .
    — Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 14 July 2026
Definition of wobbled
Verb
  • While warming up, the four 2,400-hp Pratt & Whitney engines rattled and shook the plane’s fuselage.
    — Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Witnesses said the explosion shook the area as much as the quake.
    — Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
Definition of shook
Verb
  • That said, the latest cuts are not expected to be as sweeping as those that rocked the company in 2023, when dozens of employees—including 20 on-air hosts and analysts (Suzy Kolber, Jeff Van Gundy, Jalen Rose, et al)—were let go.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 21 July 2026
  • While the rapper sported an Argentina jacket to show his support for the country’s national team during the final game that same day, Stormi rocked a Spain jersey.
    — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026
Definition of rocked
Verb
  • The way the stadium shuddered with noise.
    — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 7 May 2026
  • 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
Definition of shuddered

Browse Nearby Words

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tottered
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Cite this Entry

“Tottered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tottered. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of tottered for Spanish Speakers

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