variants
also wabbles
1
as in shakes
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements
the patient's hand wobbles so much that he can scarcely hold a glass of water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in lurches
to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions
the table wobbled whenever I leaned on it
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in hesitates
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
we cannot afford to have the governor wobble at this critical time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in falters
to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side
the drunk stood up, wobbled for a moment, and fell forward
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of wobbles
Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 6 Apr. 2026
The show continually wobbles between these two poles.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2026
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
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
And the resulting 35-yard field goal try — a six-inch gimmie putt in the modern NFL — wobbles wide right.
—Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
The tone wobbles between genuine dread and a kind of earnest, slightly campy nostalgia reminiscent of Stand by Me.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2025
Our economy wobbles but returns to growth.
—John Hope Bryant, Time, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
Sketch a plan for practice, then show up even if motivation wobbles.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 6 Apr. 2026
The show continually wobbles between these two poles.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2026
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
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
And the resulting 35-yard field goal try — a six-inch gimmie putt in the modern NFL — wobbles wide right.
—Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
The tone wobbles between genuine dread and a kind of earnest, slightly campy nostalgia reminiscent of Stand by Me.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2025
Our economy wobbles but returns to growth.
—John Hope Bryant, Time, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wobbles
Verb
-
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a reception, held on Victory Day marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2025.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Protein shakes can be made with milk or water.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Republicans’ hopes of holding on to their slim majorities in the House and Senate may well hinge on the cost at the pump as the war against Iran lurches into its second week.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
10 Mar. 2026
-
But Wembanyama is on the short list of MVP favorites as the league lurches toward the playoffs, a list that includes former NBA champions Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of OKC, Denver’s Nikola Jokic along with Detroit’s Cade Cunningham and Los Angeles’ Luka Doncic.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
If a gatekeeper hesitates, breathe and restate your win.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Apr. 2026
-
In the finale, Nicky hesitates at the altar, leading Rachel to question their relationship.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But even if Ohtani falters against the Giants, who rank near the bottom of the league in runs scored per game, that will not be a death knell to his candidacy.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
As funding falters, the need for city government to step into the shoes of philanthropists like Gund and Lauder becomes even more vital.—
Gale Brewer,
New York Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some patients on chlorpromazine developed mild tremors or tics.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The brothers Brian and Eddie Holland, along with Lamont Dozier, who died in 2022, made a crucial innovation to the songbook’s tremors.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hotels used in talks last week have already asked patrons leave as the country shudders into another quasi-lockdown.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Everytime one goes by, the car shudders.—
Leon Hale,
Houston Chronicle,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Biff shouts at him at the show’s excruciating climax) sways between light and dark, between the road and the deadly shoulder, advancing through his last hours on earth as if through the stations of the cross.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Sunday's vote was seen as a key test of whether the EU member nation stays on its liberal course or sways toward the right.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Most of these sensors rely on mechanical systems that detect vibrations and movements, which limits their use on platforms that move, such as submarines and planes.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Apr. 2026
-
It can be paired with a 1,925-watt Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround sound system with 36 speakers that can send bass vibrations through the seats (an 18-speaker/575-watt Bowers & Wilkins system is standard).—
Stephen Edelstein,
ArsTechnica,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wobbles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wobbles. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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