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
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
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wavering
Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025
Rather than conciliate a wavering citizenry, two years of occupation had instead inspired tens of thousands of other colonists to join the resistance to British rule.
—Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Her question, in Lipe-Smith’s inquisitive piccolo of a voice, is heartbreaking in its blend of straightforwardness and desperate desire, as is her mother’s wavering response.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
However, Honda’s commitment was wavering, and German powerhouses Audi and Porsche were considering F1 entries.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Nix’s locker room, though, has no wavering faith in their young leader, as right tackle Mike McGlinchey emphasized.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
The court ruling, the NTP report and the wavering stance of federal agencies have empowered a backlash to fluoridation in state and local governments.
—Anna Clark, ProPublica, 18 Sep. 2025
Chief among those hurdles this year, Eskelund said, is a wavering Chinese economy that has struggled to mount a robust rebound since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
Those wavering signals reflect the divisions within the Fed.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 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
In June, Tehran paid the price for wavering, and the United States, for the first time in the nuclear era, struck the nuclear facilities of another state.
—Vipin Narang, Foreign Affairs, 5 Sep. 2025
Katie Woo, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, car values are wavering.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
But even if earnings come in better than expected, Wall Street veteran Art Hogan believes that stocks will likely trade sideways from here, wavering near all-time highs as long as trade war uncertainty persists.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
After decades of fluoridating drinking water to improve public health, some communities are wavering on the practice.
—Anna Clark, ProPublica, 13 Oct. 2025
But as the days without the car add up and the car invoices keep coming in, Phillips said his faith in the brand is wavering.
—Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Thune renewed his call Friday for wavering moderate Democratic senators to vote for the House bill, which Democrats rejected during two separate votes Tuesday and Wednesday.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 3 Oct. 2025
Between tariff policy back-and-forths, supplier negotiations, and wavering consumer demand, retailers’ pricing has been in flux.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
For the first time, his façade is wavering before Estelle’s eyes.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
Stocco said in a wavering voice.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025
Rather than conciliate a wavering citizenry, two years of occupation had instead inspired tens of thousands of other colonists to join the resistance to British rule.
—Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Her question, in Lipe-Smith’s inquisitive piccolo of a voice, is heartbreaking in its blend of straightforwardness and desperate desire, as is her mother’s wavering response.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
However, Honda’s commitment was wavering, and German powerhouses Audi and Porsche were considering F1 entries.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Nix’s locker room, though, has no wavering faith in their young leader, as right tackle Mike McGlinchey emphasized.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
The court ruling, the NTP report and the wavering stance of federal agencies have empowered a backlash to fluoridation in state and local governments.
—Anna Clark, ProPublica, 18 Sep. 2025
Chief among those hurdles this year, Eskelund said, is a wavering Chinese economy that has struggled to mount a robust rebound since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
Those wavering signals reflect the divisions within the Fed.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
The lesser among them, the timorous, the doubtful, and the wavering, stood back, watching, waiting for some greater sign, savoring their doubts.
—Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 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
In June, Tehran paid the price for wavering, and the United States, for the first time in the nuclear era, struck the nuclear facilities of another state.
—Vipin Narang, Foreign Affairs, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Misiorowski was wavering as well.
—Katie Woo, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, car values are wavering.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
But even if earnings come in better than expected, Wall Street veteran Art Hogan believes that stocks will likely trade sideways from here, wavering near all-time highs as long as trade war uncertainty persists.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
After decades of fluoridating drinking water to improve public health, some communities are wavering on the practice.
—Anna Clark, ProPublica, 13 Oct. 2025
But as the days without the car add up and the car invoices keep coming in, Phillips said his faith in the brand is wavering.
—Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Thune renewed his call Friday for wavering moderate Democratic senators to vote for the House bill, which Democrats rejected during two separate votes Tuesday and Wednesday.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 3 Oct. 2025
Between tariff policy back-and-forths, supplier negotiations, and wavering consumer demand, retailers’ pricing has been in flux.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
For the first time, his façade is wavering before Estelle’s eyes.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wavering
Noun
-
Neighbors expressed hesitation about the plans, citing the noise helicopters would cause, WPBF News 25 and WPTV reported.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Villa had known Elliott was available in the months before, yet the price caused hesitation.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Because life—even for us jaded adults—should be for the seizing, not for hesitating in the face of fear.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Meyers acted his dang butt off in this sketch, and the audience paid him back with unsure and hesitating titters — not crickets, but not enthusiasm either.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After faltering in the semifinals of the 2024 WNBA playoffs, Wilson and the Aces capped off a dominant postseason run Friday by sweeping the Phoenix Mercury with a 97-86 win.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
11 Oct. 2025
-
History will probably remember this Ravens team for faltering because of injuries, namely to their starting quarterback.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
This hesitancy is common, Travers said, because people may be fearful of being judged or of having their trauma follow them later in life.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Yet Trump’s mercurial nature has given other presidential scholars, who cited the president’s six-month journey to even suggest that Vance and Rubio were in the running to succeed him, some hesitancy.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
People hesitated, unsure of how to play with something new without looking foolish.—
Cas Holman,
CNBC,
21 Oct. 2025
-
As groceries get more expensive and Americans remain unsure about their economic future, shoppers are gravitating toward a tried-and-true budget meal.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Now, there is some reason for hesitance here, mainly because Raymond could be playing with a rotating cast on his line’s left wing this season.—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Still, the Sons of Anarchy star has been open about his initial hesitance to take on the role.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
An internal compression pad and multiple pockets help maximize packing space in this lightweight spinner, which is crafted from water-repellent nylon and boasts a proprietary stabilizer to prevent wobbling.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Think polarization, geopolitical instability, a lot of things that just have people wobbling right now.—
Fortune Editors,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wavering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wavering. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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