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
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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
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Recent Examples of wavering
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
Vogue Business Team, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2025
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
Bill Kelly, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Cassidy voted to confirm Kennedy despite publicly wavering over his vaccine views.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 5 Dec. 2025
Since then, Republican dissent has only seemed to grow — with some members who previously supported the bill now wavering.
—Joey Cappelletti, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2025
What is unusual is the borough’s wavering property values over the past decade.
—Robert Frank,carlos Waters, CNBC, 25 Nov. 2025
Trump, meanwhile, has aggressively pursued tariffs and the deportation of immigrants without legal status, while wavering at times in his support for Ukraine against Russian attacks.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 19 Nov. 2025
Cincinnati is lurking at 5-1 in the Big 12 standings, but confidence in the Bearcats is wavering after a 31-point loss at Utah on Saturday.
—Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 3 Nov. 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
Noun
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
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
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
Verb
The forecast models are wavering a bit on when the rain will arrive but the trend is more toward Friday night and Saturday.
—Bill Kelly, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Cassidy voted to confirm Kennedy despite publicly wavering over his vaccine views.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 5 Dec. 2025
Since then, Republican dissent has only seemed to grow — with some members who previously supported the bill now wavering.
—Joey Cappelletti, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2025
What is unusual is the borough’s wavering property values over the past decade.
—Robert Frank,carlos Waters, CNBC, 25 Nov. 2025
Trump, meanwhile, has aggressively pursued tariffs and the deportation of immigrants without legal status, while wavering at times in his support for Ukraine against Russian attacks.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 19 Nov. 2025
Cincinnati is lurking at 5-1 in the Big 12 standings, but confidence in the Bearcats is wavering after a 31-point loss at Utah on Saturday.
—Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 3 Nov. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wavering
Noun
-
So there's no hesitation in that regard.—
EW Staff,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Tuesday's result capped a tumultuous final month that saw national Republican condemnation, Democratic hesitation and equivocation, and a barrage of attack ads.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
At the moment, its age is still uncertain.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Nov. 2025
-
How Barton will advance his campaigns now is uncertain.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Despite unified denouncements of antisemitism, Fetterman criticized colleagues for hesitating to fully confront anti-Israel hostility.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
18 Dec. 2025
-
After a 5% rebound rally, the benchmark is hesitating a bit around 6850, comfortably near the upper end of a two-month range but perhaps marking some time to gather itself ahead of next week's Fed meeting.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
4 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The other half sees an economy on the verge of faltering, with rising unemployment, that needs easier money to avoid recession.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
9 Dec. 2025
-
Efforts to advance a US peace plan for Gaza appear to be faltering over reconstruction and security challenges.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Big money’s hesitancy Wall Street hasn’t jumped on board with the same fervor as the average Joe.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
25 Dec. 2025
-
Their efforts were met with hesitancy from some families — installing sensors required Ayala to enter homes for installation, and some families had privacy concerns around providing data to the sensors.—
Alonso Daboub,
Mercury News,
22 Dec. 2025
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
Noun
-
Citing Chinese academic research, the report notes that financial and time pressures, especially the cost and burden of child care, are major factors contributing to families’ hesitance.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Dec. 2025
-
The judge continued to echo his hesitance following the reveal and shared an Instagram Stories post posing the question for fans.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Ballard said his clients in the country at the time were unsure of what to do in the immediate aftermath of Maduro's capture.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Maduro’s supporters gathered throughout the city, many bearing arms, but seemed unsure of what to do next.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wavering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wavering. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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