WAVERINGLY Synonyms: 223 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

waver 1 of 5

verb (1)

ˈwā-vər

Definition of waver

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

waver

2 of 5

noun (1)

as in sway

Related Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wavering

4 of 5

adjective

as in uncertain

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

wavering

5 of 5

verb (2)

present participle of waver

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

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

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 Monitor's View As Americans’ trust in elections wavers, local officials and volunteers are strengthening safeguards – and making sure more voters know about it. — The Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 25 Sep. 2026 If the laser beam wavers even slightly, defects ruin the crystalline structure. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 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

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 Throughout it all, Senate Democrats stood united — no wavering, no backing down. — Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Mar. 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

Usually hidden by the glare of our star, the ethereal corona and its pale, wavering streams of plasma are shaped by the sun’s magnetic field. — Claire Cameron & Lee Billings, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026 But its machines need replacing, and the Federal Reserve is wavering on spending the money. — Jay L. Zagorsky, The Conversation, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for waver

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waver

Verb

While its lawyers have not hesitated to send cease-and-desist letters to AI companies, Disney is among the big media companies looking for ways to get in the AI game and profit from its boom.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Please have a plan in place should flash flooding develop and do not hesitate to act.

— NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of hesitate

Verb

This week a deal for Volta Infrastructure faltered as investors feeling full-up on data center debt demanded higher yields.

— Ellen DiMauro, semafor.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Even where efforts to build democratic institutions have faltered, as after the Arab Spring, liberal ideas have nonetheless persisted and expanded.

— Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of falter

Noun

Still, this vocal group may have more sway going forward if Republicans perform poorly in the midterms and AI anxiety is a factor.

— Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Blurred boundaries Measuring global functional connectivity—how much influence each patch of cortex exerts over the rest—the team found that, when participants had their eyes closed, sensory regions lost sway while associative regions gained.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of sway

Verb

But now, the occupation seems to tremble before Palestinian children holding paper and string.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
Those afflicted would tremble and jerk around, lose the ability to stand or swallow, and, after many months of slow suffering, die.

— David Remnick, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of tremble

Noun

The men rushed on to the plain, setting more trees ablaze and hurling rocks.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
All of the rooms are warm and inviting, with a river-rock fireplace in the living room and the library done up with floor-to-ceiling knotty pine bookshelves.

— Tori Latham, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of rock

Noun

Two weeks later, a wave of protests had swept cities across France.

— Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
The death of actor and disability rights advocate RJ Mitte was met with a wave of grief from his Breaking Bad co-stars, who shared memories of Mitte following the tragedy.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of wave

Verb

Between increasing costs and construction challenges from the BRT project, some small, longtime businesses have wobbled and closed.

— John Wenzel, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026
In addition to rewards for moving at the right speed and in the right direction and penalties for things like wobbling or jerky movement, the team introduced a novel way to keep the hand in a crawling stance during the simulated training.

— Edd Gent, IEEE Spectrum, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of wobble

Browse Nearby Words

wavelets

waver

wavered

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Style

“Waver.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waver. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of waver

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