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
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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
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Recent Examples of wavers
Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
The Vikings’ system has been built on operating over the middle, and Murray’s performance in that area wavers.
—Dianna Russini, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
That could be risky if demand wavers.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2026
If confidence wavers, share your draft with a trusted friend, and remember that feedback is fuel rather than a stop sign.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
As a small rural settlement is swiftly and ruthlessly stripped bare by the twin plagues of a diphtheria epidemic and spreading wildfires, the film eventually descends into a near-literal hellscape, though even when pandemonium takes over on screen, Van Dusen’s formal control never wavers.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
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
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
Verb
In the movie theater, and increasingly on smaller screens, the boundaries between real and reel wavers and blurs.
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
The Vikings’ system has been built on operating over the middle, and Murray’s performance in that area wavers.
—Dianna Russini, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
That could be risky if demand wavers.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2026
If confidence wavers, share your draft with a trusted friend, and remember that feedback is fuel rather than a stop sign.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
As a small rural settlement is swiftly and ruthlessly stripped bare by the twin plagues of a diphtheria epidemic and spreading wildfires, the film eventually descends into a near-literal hellscape, though even when pandemonium takes over on screen, Van Dusen’s formal control never wavers.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wavers
Verb
-
Though Pollan hesitates to claim that a fundamental aspect of human capability and human experience remains beyond science’s reach, A World Appears closely maps out such a territory.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
11 Mar. 2026
-
If a planner hesitates or hedges on this question, consider that a red flag.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
If Oviedo falters over the next month, the Red Sox may be forced to flip him with either Tolle or Early.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Alice never falters in her suspicions.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Remove debris from the lawn such as fallen branches and rocks, as well as any moveable lawn furniture or décor.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Speculation had swirled in some circles that if Netflix, which had an agreement last December with the WBD board, hit the rocks in terms of regulation, Paramount could have swooped in down the line and snagged WBD at fire-sale prices.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The start of its third act wobbles a bit, but the filmmakers provide a smashing ending that holds hope there will be more adventures to follow.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
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
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
-
Israel retaliated with large waves of airstrikes and Israeli troops captured several new posts in southern Lebanon.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The standalone structure was perched right on the edge of the pool and just a few dozen feet from the crashing waves.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Wind whips ferociously, kicking up gusts of powdery snow.—
Jen Murphy,
Robb Report,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Athena whips votes; Myki doesn’t bother.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wavers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wavers. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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