as in hesitation
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action
after a moment's wavering, she accepted his proposal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in irresolute
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in hesitating
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
he's still wavering about whether to take the job
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in faltering
to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side
the steel tower wavered for a moment before falling over
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wavering
Noun
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As the fintech industry recalibrates—shifting from growth-at-all-costs to sustainable, focused models—leaders like Ferris are proving that clarity beats chaos, and conviction beats hesitation.—
Nicole Casperson,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025 -
Part of the hesitation expressed by business centers on understanding how the tariffs will affect consumers’ view of the economy.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
The situation is impossible, irresolute— the B.J. Vineses and priests of the world shouldn’t get to walk away scot free.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
14 Apr. 2025
-
The prevailing sense among investors and market handicappers entering the month was to expect choppy, irresolute action full of potential scares.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
12 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
Some critics have blamed the arguments Kennedy has advanced for increasing hesitancy to get vaccines and allowing the disease to spread to its current outbreak, causing the first deaths from the disease since 2015.—
Julia Mueller,
The Hill,
1 May 2025
-
Pitching owners to invest in an unproven concept is often met with hesitancy.—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
According to Priestley, many young people reach adulthood unsure about how money functions, how relationships grow and how systems interact.—
Dan Fitzpatrick,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
-
Officials are unsure of where exactly Cosmos 482 will land.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
Noun
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This hesitance only reinforces the false narrative that race is a divisive topic rather than an integral part of understanding American society.—
Anne Tapp Jaksa,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Apr. 2025
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The war plans group chat uncovered by a journalist at The Atlantic exposed some daylight between Vice President Vance and others in the administration, showing Vance’s hesitance about launching a military strike that President Trump has hailed this week as necessary and successful.—
Alex Gangitano,
The Hill,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The future remains uncertain and the debate over fairness, inclusion and athlete rights continues.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 May 2025
-
With a decline in visitor numbers and travel dollars, and federal aid nowhere in sight, the future remains uncertain for many in the area.—
Olivia Lee,
Charlotte Observer,
8 May 2025
Noun
-
Then, the White House announced that the U.S. and China have agreed to a 90 day pause in their trade war.—
David Hebert,
National Review,
16 May 2025
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However, since then, Donald Trump has initiated a 90-day pause in the U.S.-China tariff conflict, reducing U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, while China has lowered its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports from 125% to 10% .—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
The Timepiece Arkansas has always been somewhat ambivalent about the use of alcohol.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 May 2025
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Decades later, even the FBI is ambivalent about whether any of the men successfully reached shore.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 May 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Wavering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wavering. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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