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
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Recent Examples of wavering
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
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
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
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
And while plans in baseball are subject to change, the Tigers do not appear to be wavering, not even after a dramatic turn of events on one of the more noteworthy days in club history.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 5 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
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
Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Still, the market was wavering on whether AI would be the company's friend or foe.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2026
At one vortex, there’s 18th century composer Antonio Salieri, wavering between piety and murderous peevishness.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
The path out of the pending partial shutdown is unclear, with neither side showing much indication of wavering.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2026
There were reports of Palace’s interest in Strand Larsen wavering towards the end of last week, but senior sources at Elland Road, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, never sensed that deal would collapse entirely.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Or, maybe, our first night of vigil for Alex Jeffery Pretti, will be a kind of wavering candlelight in the deep, dark moral and ethical power outage that is America, for so many near and far.
—Ed Bok Lee, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
While our pantries were stocked and our resolutions were made, nearly two weeks in, our resolve may be wavering.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2026
While college tuition continues to increase nationwide, students are expected to enter the current workforce with student loans wavering above them.
—Tevon Blair, Essence, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
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
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
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
And while plans in baseball are subject to change, the Tigers do not appear to be wavering, not even after a dramatic turn of events on one of the more noteworthy days in club history.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 5 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
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
Verb
Despite the frustration within the Democratic caucus, not every vocally pro-Israel lawmaker is openly wavering on the war powers question.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Still, the market was wavering on whether AI would be the company's friend or foe.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2026
At one vortex, there’s 18th century composer Antonio Salieri, wavering between piety and murderous peevishness.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
The path out of the pending partial shutdown is unclear, with neither side showing much indication of wavering.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2026
There were reports of Palace’s interest in Strand Larsen wavering towards the end of last week, but senior sources at Elland Road, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, never sensed that deal would collapse entirely.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Or, maybe, our first night of vigil for Alex Jeffery Pretti, will be a kind of wavering candlelight in the deep, dark moral and ethical power outage that is America, for so many near and far.
—Ed Bok Lee, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
While our pantries were stocked and our resolutions were made, nearly two weeks in, our resolve may be wavering.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2026
While college tuition continues to increase nationwide, students are expected to enter the current workforce with student loans wavering above them.
—Tevon Blair, Essence, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wavering
Noun
-
Pittenger noted the hesitation from others made sense.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Several people began pushing the fish back toward the ocean — but not without some initial hesitation.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Outline your plans carefully, because regular progress should feel better than chasing an uncertain finish line.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Iran’s uncertain future is also central to the equation shifting in favor of IMEC.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Names by Florence Knapp After a devastating storm, Cora brings her newborn son to be registered, hesitating when pressured to name him after her controlling husband.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Igor Jesus fluffed his lines when Omari Hutchinson sent him through on goal, hesitating too long and allowing Virgil van Dijk to snatch the ball.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Tatum’s injury was supposed to be a big reason the conference was so wide-open, along with the Indiana Pacers faltering because of Tyrese Haliburton’s own Achilles injury.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Now, as the conflict has shown signs of widening to other countries, including Lebanon and Bahrain, traditional safe-haven assets are showing signs of faltering.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Finally, Jim said that our hesitancy to sell is due to fear that the company will figure out how to solve its AI woes.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
10 Mar. 2026
-
That hesitancy has never fully disappeared.—
Ken Toltz,
Denver Post,
5 Mar. 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
Noun
-
Analysts have noted Mojtaba's lack of adequate religious credentials and hesitance within the regime to oversee a dynastic succession as marks against his candidacy to be the next supreme leader.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Her only hesitance was how much the internet has changed culture in the past decade.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
These delicate items can’t be tossed in the washing machine, which leaves many people unsure how to clean them.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Adults who are unsure can check vaccination records or consult with their health care provider.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wavering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wavering. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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