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
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
as in irresolute
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wavering
Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
Industry leaders such as Denmark’s Orsted, Siemens Gamesa, and General Electric have been squeezed by rising component prices, high interest rates, and wavering government support.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2025
But Gray rejected the offer, never wavering in his claims of innocence.
—Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2025
Costly errors, lapses in concentration, and wavering decision-making have left him struggling to maintain the reliability required at the very top.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Noun
That’s particularly true at a time of economic volatility and wavering consumer sentiment.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
Adjective
Putin emerged from Beijing’s bonhomie last week – discussing immortality with his main bankroller, President Xi Jinping, and sharing his limo with wavering US ally, Indian leader Narendra Modi – aware that China wanted to parade its own bloc, unbowed.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
Industry leaders such as Denmark’s Orsted, Siemens Gamesa, and General Electric have been squeezed by rising component prices, high interest rates, and wavering government support.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2025
But Gray rejected the offer, never wavering in his claims of innocence.
—Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2025
Costly errors, lapses in concentration, and wavering decision-making have left him struggling to maintain the reliability required at the very top.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wavering
Noun
-
That hesitation quickly fled when the mask began to dry and tighten on the skin.—
Abby Dupes,
StyleCaster,
5 Sep. 2025
-
So is the hesitation, the concern for consequence, and the mid-match questioning of how she is supposed to play.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As adults, this pattern can look like hesitating to ask for help, avoiding vulnerability or keeping emotional struggles private, even from those closest to you.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Concerns about the economy and tariffs do have some companies hesitating to make long-term decisions, but even with that concern, more are taking on long-term leases than were a year ago, CBRE found.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
China's housing downturn has stretched into a fourth year, with prices, sales, investment and construction activity faltering across the board.—
Anniek Bao,Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
25 Aug. 2025
-
Investors’ long-running enthusiasm for artificial intelligence showed signs of faltering late Tuesday and early Wednesday morning as tech stocks tumbled.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
20 Aug. 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
-
My main hesitancy is the baby registry.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
30 Aug. 2025
-
Inundated with protests and newfound hesitancy following the Three Mile Island accident in Pennsylvania, the company ceased construction a year later.—
Marissa Meador,
IndyStar,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
She was frustrated by Highmark’s denials and unsure if her last resort, the external appeal, would yield results.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Daniel Palencia left Sunday’s 6-3 loss to the Nationals after giving up 5 runs with a right posterior shoulder injury, and Counsell was still unsure the next day whether Palencia could return before the end of the regular season.—
Jared Wyllys,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Josh Brolin, who played big brother Brandon Walsh, expressed hesitance about a second movie.—
Daysia Tolentino,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Probably not, given the company’s strange hesitance to part ways with its current leadership.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The most common form, cervical dystonia, affects the neck, causing wobbling or worse, the inability to hold the head upright.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
4 Sep. 2025
-
But the Axis was guaranteed to fail, and the signs of that failure were visible long before the Axis started wobbling.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wavering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wavering. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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