1
as in hesitates
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
2
as in falters
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
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 wavers
Samantha Brash, InStyle, 8 Feb. 2026
As Mercury stations retrograde in your sign, confidence wavers and old narratives resurface, tempting you to retreat or overexplain.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
His role has vacillated from being a starter or an offensive catalyst off the bench, but his attitude never wavers.
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 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
Throughout, the depth and quality of Sullivan’s attention to prosaic detail—even plain and unappealing objects—never wavers.
—The Atlantic Culture Desk, The Atlantic, 26 Dec. 2025
Despite the Eagles offense being inconsistent, her Philly pride never wavers.
—Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 20 Dec. 2025
Yet the funding, energy, and capabilities of the democratic alliance have declined as the institutions of the liberal order lose their potency and the conviction of remaining members wavers.
—Nic Cheeseman, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
The 16th-century adventurer, who first circumnavigated the globe by sea in 1522, wavers beneath the pressure of his pursuit, ultimately leading his men to mutiny and madness on the Malay Archipelago.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 18 Nov. 2025
Verb
If your season of choice wavers between winter and spring, try this matte floral design in a neutral palette of black, white, and beige.
—Samantha Brash, InStyle, 8 Feb. 2026
As Mercury stations retrograde in your sign, confidence wavers and old narratives resurface, tempting you to retreat or overexplain.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
His role has vacillated from being a starter or an offensive catalyst off the bench, but his attitude never wavers.
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 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
Throughout, the depth and quality of Sullivan’s attention to prosaic detail—even plain and unappealing objects—never wavers.
—The Atlantic Culture Desk, The Atlantic, 26 Dec. 2025
Despite the Eagles offense being inconsistent, her Philly pride never wavers.
—Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 20 Dec. 2025
Yet the funding, energy, and capabilities of the democratic alliance have declined as the institutions of the liberal order lose their potency and the conviction of remaining members wavers.
—Nic Cheeseman, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
The 16th-century adventurer, who first circumnavigated the globe by sea in 1522, wavers beneath the pressure of his pursuit, ultimately leading his men to mutiny and madness on the Malay Archipelago.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 18 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wavers
Verb
-
If someone hesitates, give them time to respond, because shared goals deserve space for honest input.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Poppy initially hesitates but ends up apologizing to Sarah, admitting that her deep connection with Alex had gotten in the way of her relationship.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
What never falters is the euphoric chaos of the experience.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Where the film falters is in its plodding rhythm and clunky dialogue, much of which is delivered too flatly by actors who don’t exactly steal their scenes.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Up to 30 percent of life on Earth doesn’t ever see sunlight; instead these organisms get energy by chowing down on hydrogen generated through chemical interactions between water and rocks.—
Damien Pine,
Scientific American,
9 Feb. 2026
-
On the gloomy ground floor were piles of rocks resembling those which had been used in what, in my view, was the most striking work in the Edinburgh show.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The grades look normal, the homework gets turned in, and then a new unit shows up, and the whole thing wobbles.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Over the next two weeks, these shifts could start to be felt in North America, Europe and Asia as the polar vortex weakens and tumbles south, like a spinning top that slows and wobbles off course.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
19 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Head to any tennis court to try to get some swings in and one’s sure to see plenty of people playing pickleball, a combination of badminton, ping pong and tennis that sees players swing small paddles on a short court.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The microscope captured collective oscillations of superconducting electrons.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Feb. 2026
-
There’s not much to quibble with in the market’s to-and-fro oscillations among sectors and themes so far.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Elsewhere along the beach, Grey walked along the shoreline as waves broke at her feet.—
Danielle Minnetian,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
If these waves are eventually detected, that would rule this idea out.—
Sarah Scoles,
Scientific American,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Athena whips votes; Myki doesn’t bother.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Some white parents beat their children with the same whips the apartheid police used in Black neighborhoods.—
Eve Fairbanks,
The Dial,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wavers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wavers. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
