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
Murat Ates, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
Brayden Yager appears to be the opposite of that — a centreman whose all-around game should be enough to win NHL minutes even if his offence wavers at the pro level.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wavers
Verb
-
If the alliance hesitates, Putin will see weakness and press harder.—
David A. Deptula,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The actress hesitates for only a second before divulging the story.—
Galina Espinoza,
Flow Space,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Thiago shines while Fernandes falters Brentford produced one of the standout results of the weekend with a convincing 3-1 victory over Manchester United.—
Abdul Rehman,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Max Verstappen's victories in the last two Grands Prix have brought him back into the championship fight, although the 69-point gap to Piastri can only be achieved if McLaren falters on every race weekend.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
These chemical fossils—the molecular remnants of once-living organisms that have been buried, transformed, and preserved in sediment over time—were discovered in rocks that date back to more than 541 million years ago, during the Ediacaran Period.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Student Muhammad Rijalul Qoib recalled that hundreds of his peers were praying when rocks began to fall.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Our economy wobbles but returns to growth.—
John Hope Bryant,
Time,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Land awkwardly on the kerb and your rider wobbles convincingly.—
Griff Griffin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Superimposed on this slow drift are smaller and more frequent oscillations known as nutations.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Instead, gravitational waves, as natural quantum oscillations of space-time itself, are enough in this model to create the density fluctuations that lead to matter developing structures like galaxies, stars, and planets.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The work captures life between Mount Vesuvius and the Gulf of Naples, where the ground shakes periodically and the fumaroles of the Phlegraean Fields taint the air.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The roar starts before the lights go down — a low, collective thunder that shakes the arena floor.—
Crystal Bell,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Lots of rain, coming in waves, especially in eastern and south Florida.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Afghans lost the ability to contact anyone within or beyond their borders, sending waves of panic worldwide as families, colleagues and friends realized an entire nation had gone dark.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The wind whips, the vegetation snaps, the electrical towers howl.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The grill also sells fresh cheese curds, mozza whips, and cheese sticks.—
Sofia Joseph,
jsonline.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wavers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wavers. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share