totters

verb

present tense third-person singular of totter
1
as in staggers
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 falters
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 totters But The Gilded Age doesn’t do pure villains with its main cast, and Oscar totters between failson and tragic figure, the closeted heir of the Van Rhijn family dragged to hell and back after being defrauded of his mother’s fortune. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for totters
  1. staggers
  2. falters
  3. lurches
  4. wobbles
  5. rocks
  6. shakes
Verb
  • Steely and deliberate songwriting that casually staggers down the line between rhythm and melody, laced with loose yet conscious jams.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2026
  • Like many Florida school districts, OCPS staggers start times to most efficiently use its school buses and drivers.
    — Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
Definition of staggers
Verb
  • However, turning advanced materials from lab success into commercial products often falters at the production stage, where slow manufacturing and harsh chemical inputs make mass production prohibitively expensive and unsafe.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The Clemson junior from Rienzi, Mississippi is chasing a football career, but if that falters might chose to follow his parents into the military.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of falters
Verb
  • Hop on the #6 double-decker from Central to Stanley beach, which lurches around Hong Kong Island's mountainous southern South China Sea coast (sit upstairs on the right-hand side).
    — Lee Cobaj, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026
  • He is disoriented, and the plane lurches toward becoming inverted.
    — Liz McNeil, PEOPLE, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of lurches
Verb
  • Bake pie until edges of filling are set and slightly puffed but center still wobbles a little when gently shaken, 40–50 minutes (filling will continue to set after baking).
    — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Nov. 2026
  • If the fan wobbles noticeably at the ceiling or the mounting assembly moves, turn it off and have an electrician or qualified ceiling fan technician inspect it.
    — Tricia Goss, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of wobbles
Verb
  • The stuff that works here manages to blast past personal malaise with music that rocks.
    — Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The Trike2 rocks an 840-Wh battery, for up to 70 miles (113 km) of range.
    — Loz Blain October 26, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of rocks
Verb
  • Protein shakes, such as those made with whey protein, may support weight loss by increasing satiety and helping preserve lean muscle mass during a calorie deficit.
    — Jillian Kubala, HEALTH, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The video shows Morales making a few sharp moves with the steering wheel before the SUV shakes.
    — Anna Wilder, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of shakes

Browse Nearby Words

tottering
totters
tottery
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Cite this Entry

“Totters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/totters. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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