waver 1 of 5

Definition of wavernext

waver

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noun (1)

wavering

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noun (2)

wavering

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adjective

wavering

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verb (2)

present participle of waver

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb waver differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of waver are falter, hesitate, and vacillate. While all these words mean "to show irresolution or uncertainty," waver implies hesitation after seeming to decide and so connotes weakness or a retreat.

wavered in his support of the rebels

Where would falter be a reasonable alternative to waver?

While the synonyms falter and waver are close in meaning, falter implies a wavering or stumbling and often connotes nervousness, lack of courage, or outright fear.

never once faltered during her testimony

When could hesitate be used to replace waver?

The words hesitate and waver are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hesitate implies a pause before deciding or acting or choosing.

hesitated before answering the question

When would vacillate be a good substitute for waver?

The synonyms vacillate and waver are sometimes interchangeable, but vacillate implies prolonged hesitation from inability to reach a firm decision.

vacillated until events were out of control

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of waver
Verb
The foundation of making our children our priority has never wavered. Sarah Sotoodeh, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2026 For years, the Dolphins front office wavered between being a big, physical team built around the draft to a small, fast team built in free agency. Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
The European Central Bank is offering liquidity to other central banks, reinforcing euro diplomacy as trust in the US financial system wavers. Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 18 Feb. 2026 In season two, based on the nine of 15 total episodes provided to critics, the restraint wavers and the balance begins to tilt. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
Adjective
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
Verb
Despite some online commentators with large followings publicly disagreeing with the president's decision—and many legacy media outlets eagerly highlighting their comments to try and sow division—the MAGA base is not wavering one bit. Sam Stevenson, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026 Bolloré and Bonnassies’s arguments are more likely to shore up the faith of wavering believers than to win new converts. Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for waver
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waver
Adjective
  • Something that felt uncertain now becomes obvious.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 May 2026
  • Whether there's enough support to pass such a measure is uncertain.
    Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 30 Apr. 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
Adjective
  • Confused and unsure what to do, a BSO deputy told him his only option was to try to rebook with another airline and hope to make it in time for his daughter’s communion.
    Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 2 May 2026
  • Thirty-five percent of unsure voters ticked that box, with 33% of young voters doing so.
    Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
Adjective
  • But these unknown early writings suggest that he may be better understood as an immigrant writer—one of the gifted, ambivalent outsiders who remade American literature after World War II—whose most astonishing achievement was the all-American voice of On the Road and the books that came after.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Apr. 2026
  • The book’s ambivalent nostalgia has not kept it from succeeding prodigiously.
    Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Far from faltering, Lip-Bu Tan, who became chief executive of Intel in March 2025, is flourishing.
    Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Milan supporters must hope that happens before the end of their faltering campaign.
    Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • On the Edmonton end, Evan Bouchard and Connor McDavid, who led the NHL in defensive scoring and scoring period, respectively, are humming along offensively after wobbly starts to the series.
    Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Soon the series saw its second significant head injury, as a wobbly Hurricanes rookie Alexander Nikishin required escorting off the ice after a massive, unpenalized hit from Ottawa Senators behemoth Tyler Kleven.
    James Mirtle, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Braff admits, but explains the conflicted choice.
    Amanda Champagne-Meadows, Deadline, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Why not let Al-Hashimi speak for herself in the same way that Robby has tried to explain to Dana and Duke his conflicted feelings about continuing to work at PTMC?
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Etiquette neither knows nor cares who is generous and who is stingy, and indecisive and rude are not opposites.
    Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Cut yourself some slack at work today because there is a Moon Alert all day, which makes things hazy and indecisive.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Waver.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waver. Accessed 8 May. 2026.

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