Synonyms of waver

waver 1 of 5

verb (1)

ˈwā-vər 

1

as in to hesitate

to show uncertainty about the right course of action

he's still wavering about whether to take the job

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hesitate
• falter
• vacillate
• stagger
• dither
• scruple
• wait
• halt
• debate
• hang back
• teeter
• balance
• pause
• wobble
• sway
• linger
• shilly-shally
• delay
• haw
• ponder
• procrastinate
• dawdle
• oscillate
• hem
• weigh
• back down
• chicken (out)
• deliberate
• equivocate
• consider
• waffle
• hedge
• pussyfoot
• dally

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decide
• continue
• stir
• plunge (in)
• dive (in)
• budge
• advance

2

as in to falter

to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side

the steel tower wavered for a moment before falling over

Synonyms & Similar Words

• falter
• tremble
• shake
• wobble
• shudder
• rock
• totter
• vibrate
• lurch
• quiver
• teeter
• stumble
• flounder
• quake
• stagger
• toddle
• quaver
• reel
• weave
• careen

waver

2 of 5

noun (1)

as in sway

Related Words

• sway
• rock
• wave
• oscillation
• swing
• switch
• wag
• flutter
• whisk
• whip
• flap
• waggle
• swish
• twitch
• wiggle
• shake
• jolt
• jerk
• flick
• bob
• nod
• jiggle
• snap

wavering

3 of 5

noun (2)

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

• hesitation
• hesitancy
• hesitance
• pause
• indecision
• delay
• vacillation
• faltering
• wobbling
• irresolution
• uncertainty
• fence-sitting
• deliberation
• waiting
• shilly-shallying
• doubt
• shilly-shally
• indecisiveness
• reluctance
• hawing
• incertitude
• procrastination
• debate
• consideration
• second thought
• indetermination
• unwillingness
• timidity
• misgiving
• avoidance
• arrière-pensée
• indisposition
• faintheartedness
• equivocation
• uncertainness
• disinclination
• aversion
• timidness
• shyness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• determination
• resolution
• confidence
• certainty
• firmness
• certitude
• readiness
• decisiveness
• sureness
• resoluteness
• eagerness
• alacrity

wavering

4 of 5

adjective

as in uncertain

Related Words

• uncertain
• irresolute
• unsure
• ambivalent
• faltering
• wobbly
• questioning
• conflicted
• indecisive
• vacillating
• undecided
• skeptical
• infirm
• halting
• doubtful
• insecure
• diffident
• unenthusiastic
• reluctant
• hesitant
• loath
• uneager
• disinclined
• reticent
• cagey
• indisposed
• dubious

Dissimilar Words

• resolute
• decided
• decisive
• unquestioning
• determined
• confident
• certain
• positive
• sanguine
• sure
• assured
• convinced
• willing
• ready
• self-assured
• inclined
• disposed

wavering

5 of 5

verb (2)

present participle of waver

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

• hesitating
• faltering
• vacillating
• dithering
• debating
• waiting
• halting
• balancing
• teetering
• wobbling
• hanging back
• staggering
• swaying
• pausing
• lingering
• scrupling
• shilly-shallying
• delaying
• pondering
• hawing
• procrastinating
• weighing
• hemming
• deliberating
• dawdling
• waffling
• oscillating
• backing down
• equivocating
• dallying
• considering
• chickening (out)
• hedging
• pussyfooting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deciding
• plunging (in)
• continuing
• stirring
• diving (in)
• advancing
• budging

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

• faltering
• trembling
• wobbling
• shaking
• rocking
• shuddering
• tottering
• lurching
• vibrating
• quivering
• teetering
• floundering
• quaking
• stumbling
• quavering
• reeling
• toddling
• staggering
• weaving
• careening

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

Recent Examples of waver

Verb

In an interview with The New York Times, Gibney confirmed that Universal Pictures wavered in planning the doc’s overseas release. — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026

Warsh could go into the October meeting primed to muscle up wavering committee members based on booming demand for AI spending and warm readings in the inflation data. — Matt Peterson, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026

Noun

The Chicago White Sox wand-waver, out for the season after Tommy John surgery, found himself in the middle of a heated debate with Detroit starter Tarik Skubal during the Tigers’ 4-3 win over the Sox on Friday at Comerica Park. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026

From that moment, Roosevelt's admiration for America's Civil War president never wanes or wavers. — Douglas Brinkley, USA Today, 24 May 2026

Noun

After his years of national wavering, Volpato’s entrance officially tied him, for the rest of his life, to Australia. — Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 1 July 2026

And with Trump remaining popular in the state — despite some nationwide wavering over issues including the economy — proximity to the president has been a campaign feature for all of the Republicans vying for the state's top office. — ABC News, 23 June 2026

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

Verb

But Brent resumed climbing as conflict persisted, topping $100 per barrel again in July before wavering and then hitting that mark again late Tuesday. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026

Emerging markets such as India, which entered the top 20 markets two years ago and now ranks 15th for Swiss watch exports by size, and Mexico are also contributing to a lessening of the dependency on wavering top markets, in particular China. — Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026