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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in uncertain
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of wavering
Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
There would be no wavering of any kind on my part this time.
—Patrick Albanese As Told To Courtney Crowder, Des Moines Register, 22 Mar. 2026
The straight march of the High Street turned wavering and sly.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
In this atmosphere, as ProPublica has reported, there’s been widespread wavering on water fluoridation, even in Michigan, where the treatment debuted more than 80 years ago.
—Anna Clark, CNN Money, 16 Jan. 2026
In this atmosphere, as ProPublica has reported, there’s been widespread wavering on water fluoridation, even in Michigan, where the treatment debuted more than 80 years ago.
—Anna Clark, ProPublica, 14 Jan. 2026
Risks to China’s momentum, US reversals and European wavering spell trouble for electric vehicles in the year ahead.
—Kyle Stock, Bloomberg, 6 Jan. 2026
However, the projections being made insinuate some potential wavering on his side.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
This simple step before beginning a project is the easiest way to prevent wavering between keeping an item or discarding it.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2025
Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 10 June 2026
He was encouraged by his timing and sensed Miller might be wavering, especially after an errant pickoff throw put the go-ahead run 90 feet away.
—Katie Woo, New York Times, 20 May 2026
One night, Altman took an Ambien, only to be awakened by his husband, an Australian coder named Oliver Mulherin, who told him that Sutskever was wavering, and that people were telling Altman to speak with the board.
—Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Music is the focal point of each service, with Jeffrey playing guitar and keyboards behind the curtain, singing in a wavering voice reminiscent of Jeff Mangum about the subjects, ideas and feelings that have occupied his mind at various stages of his life.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
But by the time the Trojans had gotten into the pressures of February, the optimism was wavering.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 3 Mar. 2026
Rarely wavering and never giving up.
—David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
In his new role, Jejurikar will be tasked with driving sales performance amid a wavering global market.
—Vogue Business Team, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2025
Stocco said in a wavering voice.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025
Brianna J. Heath, ARTnews.com, 26 May 2026
Yields had been down Friday morning, offering some relief, before wavering after oil prices erased their losses and the survey on consumer sentiment showed worsening inflation expectations.
—Stan Choe, Fortune, 23 May 2026
Yields had been down Friday morning, offering some relief, before wavering after oil prices erased their losses and the survey on consumer sentiment showed worsening inflation expectations.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
Adding to the sector's challenges of wavering consumer demand and aggressive new e-commerce competition are macroeconomic shocks hitting production lines.
—Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 20 May 2026
For when the cast and crew’s energy is wavering.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 25 Apr. 2026
That’s why – so far, at least – Iran isn’t wavering.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2026
After three years of waiting, wavering and wondering, that’s precisely what happened.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2026
For locals, however, the focus has been on quickly picking up the pieces, without wavering in their welcoming spirit.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
Throughout it all, Senate Democrats stood united — no wavering, no backing down.
—Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
There would be no wavering of any kind on my part this time.
—Patrick Albanese As Told To Courtney Crowder, Des Moines Register, 22 Mar. 2026
The straight march of the High Street turned wavering and sly.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
In this atmosphere, as ProPublica has reported, there’s been widespread wavering on water fluoridation, even in Michigan, where the treatment debuted more than 80 years ago.
—Anna Clark, CNN Money, 16 Jan. 2026
In this atmosphere, as ProPublica has reported, there’s been widespread wavering on water fluoridation, even in Michigan, where the treatment debuted more than 80 years ago.
—Anna Clark, ProPublica, 14 Jan. 2026
Risks to China’s momentum, US reversals and European wavering spell trouble for electric vehicles in the year ahead.
—Kyle Stock, Bloomberg, 6 Jan. 2026
However, the projections being made insinuate some potential wavering on his side.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
This simple step before beginning a project is the easiest way to prevent wavering between keeping an item or discarding it.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The same engine that nudges one shopper up can hand another a discount to close a wavering sale.
—Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 10 June 2026
He was encouraged by his timing and sensed Miller might be wavering, especially after an errant pickoff throw put the go-ahead run 90 feet away.
—Katie Woo, New York Times, 20 May 2026
One night, Altman took an Ambien, only to be awakened by his husband, an Australian coder named Oliver Mulherin, who told him that Sutskever was wavering, and that people were telling Altman to speak with the board.
—Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Music is the focal point of each service, with Jeffrey playing guitar and keyboards behind the curtain, singing in a wavering voice reminiscent of Jeff Mangum about the subjects, ideas and feelings that have occupied his mind at various stages of his life.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
But by the time the Trojans had gotten into the pressures of February, the optimism was wavering.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 3 Mar. 2026
Rarely wavering and never giving up.
—David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
In his new role, Jejurikar will be tasked with driving sales performance amid a wavering global market.
—Vogue Business Team, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2025
Stocco said in a wavering voice.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
Difficulties in fundraising and wavering institutional support led them to establish an independent space, located in a former auto dealership.
—Brianna J. Heath, ARTnews.com, 26 May 2026
Yields had been down Friday morning, offering some relief, before wavering after oil prices erased their losses and the survey on consumer sentiment showed worsening inflation expectations.
—Stan Choe, Fortune, 23 May 2026
Yields had been down Friday morning, offering some relief, before wavering after oil prices erased their losses and the survey on consumer sentiment showed worsening inflation expectations.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
Adding to the sector's challenges of wavering consumer demand and aggressive new e-commerce competition are macroeconomic shocks hitting production lines.
—Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 20 May 2026
For when the cast and crew’s energy is wavering.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 25 Apr. 2026
That’s why – so far, at least – Iran isn’t wavering.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2026
After three years of waiting, wavering and wondering, that’s precisely what happened.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2026
For locals, however, the focus has been on quickly picking up the pieces, without wavering in their welcoming spirit.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wavering
Noun
-
That hesitation to ride in an AV, however, is highly dependent on the specific situation, the study found.—
Ed Garsten,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
The Chicago Board of Education renewed the contracts with six charter school operators Wednesday, despite recent hesitations from some board members about approving long-term agreements after a slew of financial troubles in the sector.—
Kate Perez,
Chicago Tribune,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Between Richards’ health, Ream’s age and the uncertain roles of McKenzie and Robinson, center back is the USMNT’s most fluid position.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
-
The fate of roughly $2 billion annually that was intended to help reduce wildfire risk, promote clean water and build affordable housing, along with other efforts across California, is uncertain as the Legislature races to pass a state budget by Monday.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
The book does often feel like a recording of a mental jam session, but there is also a sense of being guided by a kind of hesitating yet urgent voice that needs to get things figured out.—
Craig Morgan Teicher,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
-
While their rivals started spending significant sums of money as soon as the 2024-25 season finished, Spurs wasted a couple of weeks hesitating about the long-term future of then head coach Ange Postecoglou before replacing him with Thomas Frank.—
David Ornstein,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
China's economy has shown signs of faltering following a strong first-quarter.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
9 June 2026
-
After faltering in last year’s Div.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Another common problem for leaders is dealing with the pressure to innovate or the hesitancy to invest from the board.—
Francesca Cassidy,
Fortune,
8 June 2026
-
His hesitancy could undermine one of DeSantis’ key arguments to sway voters, particularly those in small counties, in favor of the amendment.—
Romy Ellenbogen Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Where Trump is unrelenting and single-minded, the justices have been inconsistent and unpredictable, and therefore appear irresolute.—
Noah Feldman,
Twin Cities,
24 Dec. 2025
-
Downtown, in his studio at the corner of White and Cortlandt Alley, on a Thursday evening in late July, Wyeth sat on his stool and considered the irresolute underpainting on his canvas.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Art schools, like all schools, are wobbling under the illogic of the cost-benefit math.—
Katy Siegel,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
Your calm precision can keep the whole plan from wobbling.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Others, like Choi, believe that knowledge gaps are to blame for donor hesitance to get involved.—
Angelica Ang,
Fortune,
25 May 2026
-
After a pause for the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, social hesitance was still evident and masks were incorporated into some of the night's designs.—
Luis Giraldo,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wavering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wavering. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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