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

Relevance

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 arm locks into both positions via an internal catch so that there's no unwanted flexing or wavering in the middle of your work. — New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2026 Major circuits’ presales for Clayface are wavering; some indicate an $18M opening, while others see it in the mid-$20Ms. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 20 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 See All Example Sentences for waver

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waver

Verb

Reevaluate your coverage options, then, in light of recent market developments and don't hesitate to reconsider your life insurance type, too, as your goals may have changed compared to when it was first secured.

— Matt Richardson, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
In an era when consumers don’t hesitate to post even hurtful comments, says Saunders, Cohen knows how to operate.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of hesitate

Verb

Anir has remained glued to the door, his left hand gripping the handle as if clinging to something solid might keep him from faltering.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2026
When that reboot faltered, climaxing in a nightmarish season-14 finale, RHONY got another, softer reboot in the form of all but three cast members being fired.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of falter

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

In many ways, this was the end of Dylan’s own rock’n’roll era, the start of his slide into Christian rock and dangly earrings and folk covers and a consensus that his vital work was now permanently behind him.

— Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 7 Nov. 2026
The contemporary rooms are the most striking, all polished, minimalist, and moody with quartzite rock walls, floor-to-ceiling bay windows, paddling-pool sized sunken bathtubs, and sexy double sided fireplaces.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of rock

Verb

Soon after, a warden shook Guardado and shouted his name, but got no response and a medic then pronounced him dead.

— KIM CHANDLER, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2026
Ueno Bank’s failure has locked nearly half the country’s 6 million people out of their savings, shaking a country long viewed as one of South America’s more stable economies.

— Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of shake

Noun

This wave of optimism around the Indian markets comes at a time when corporate earnings for the September quarter have shown material improvement.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
During the summer, heavy waves and erosion closed the rail line for several days.

— Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of wave

Verb

If image-processing software can better clean up stars’ glare, the hardware can be allowed to wobble a bit more.

— Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 4 Nov. 2026
Telescopes do not stay perfectly still, so nearly imperceptible changes caused by wobbling alter the resulting images of starlight.

— Adam Harrington, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of wobble

Browse Nearby Words

wavelets

waver

wavered

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Waver.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waver. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of waver

verb (1)

noun (1)

noun (2)

adjective

verb (2)

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

wabi-sabi

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes