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 Like a lot of us who tottered into consciousness in the second half of the 20th century, Les Claypool grew up with cartoons from the family television beaming into his retinas. — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 2 Aug. 2026 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
  • When the chute opened, Paper Cut thrashed across the arena until, at the sound of the buzzer, Jacobson launched himself off the animal and staggered away, his chaps flapping.
    — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Another argument favors sacrificing the long summer break for more frequent shorter breaks staggered throughout the school year.
    — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of staggered
Verb
  • But their turnout in Broward, the state’s last big remaining Democratic stronghold, faltered.
    — Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Summary The Philadelphia Phillies' 2026 season hopes for their back-end rotation and bullpen have faltered, prompting a search for pitching upgrades.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of faltered
Verb
  • Markets have lurched up and down as oil prices shot higher because of the war with Iran.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • His car lurched forward with Miller’s arm still reaching through the window, briefly dragging the cop down the street.
    — Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of lurched
Verb
  • The ball wobbled, but Fields got underneath it for about a 40-yard catch.
    — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of wobbled
Verb
  • Messick laughed, shook his head and pleaded for the nickname to meet a quick demise.
    — Zack Meisel, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Neighbors said the blast shook homes as far as two blocks away.
    — Bryant Reed, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of shook
Verb
  • First, Babar Azam, recently reappointed as captain, rocked on to his back foot and deposited the hosts’ Jomel Warrican over long on and into the stand at the Queen’s Park Oval for six.
    — Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Fenix rocked El Fiscal with big kicks followed by a moonsault for a nearfall.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of rocked
Verb
  • On Thursday, Clancy loudly sobbed, shuddered and covered her face with her hands as a medical examiner testified about Callan’s autopsy.
    — Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The way the stadium shuddered with noise.
    — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 7 May 2026
Definition of shuddered

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totter
tottered
tottering
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Cite this Entry

“Tottered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tottered. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tottered

Nglish: Translation of tottered for Spanish Speakers

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