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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Wounded by multiple gunshots, Barron staggered a little more than 17 feet away from his truck and from Maltos and Olvera, documents said.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
25 Sep. 2025 -
Things looked less promising three weeks ago as the Mariners staggered through their second three-city East Coast trip in a month.—
Tyler Kepner,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As others faltered, a 3-0 win against Bristol Academy meant Liverpool retained the title, beating Chelsea on goal difference.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
22 Sep. 2025
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Broader coverage praised Gen 2’s practical upgrades and battery gains, but also flagged the high‑profile live AI demo faltered on stage, tempering the otherwise strong showing.—
Ashley Lutz,
Fortune,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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On Halloween of 2022, just weeks into the new school year, senior Ehni Ler Htoo was making his way through the halls of Proctor High School in Utica, New York, when a fellow student lurched at him from behind, repeatedly plunging a 9-inch hunting knife into his back.—
Tonya Simpson,
ABC News,
24 Sep. 2025
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Roth approached the man — later identified as 29-year-old Gustavo Rojas — and his heart lurched.—
April Quevedo,
jsonline.com,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The rotating fan clicked, wobbled, and turned the other way.—
Lauren Rothery,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
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Her voice wobbled occasionally but could fly across three registers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Kevin Gausman shook two champagne bottles in preparation.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
22 Sep. 2025
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Charlie Kirk's assassination at a college event in Utah on September 10 shook America but united his conservative supporters in grief.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Brandel Chamblee, a familiar voice on Golf Channel, rocked the sport on Monday with his sharp critique of Bryson DeChambeau.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
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Jenner dressed casually in a gray hoodie and black leggings, while Aire wore a pair of pajamas and rocked some bed hair.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
24 Sep. 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 29 Sep. 2025.
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