as in hesitation
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action
when it's so clear that this is the right thing to do, there's no excuse for faltering
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in wobbly
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in hesitating
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
William Lloyd Garrison never once faltered in his demand that slavery be unconditionally abolished
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in trembling
to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side
the cut tree seemed to falter for a moment before crashing to the ground
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of faltering
Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
The Reds' season can be described as consistently inconsistent but playing well down the stretch and the New York Mets faltering has led to an opportunity to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2020.
—Jason Hoffman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Sep. 2025
And the media went along with her coverup, despite Biden’s obvious faltering.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 7 Aug. 2025
Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2026
Milan supporters must hope that happens before the end of their faltering campaign.
—Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026
The faltering fiction offered here certainly doesn’t justify 10 episodes, the runtimes of which range from about 35 minutes to nearly an hour.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 7 Apr. 2026
That deal can't come soon enough for the president, as there are worrisome signs about the overall economy faltering due to the war, and even some Republicans are questioning his mission in the Middle East.
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
One of the best trades of the past year is faltering.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
Plus, home shoppers are more cautious given a faltering job market and growing economic uncertainty, meaning fewer homes are being snapped up quickly, Fairweather said.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
Mueller did not see it as his job to speak out—not then, nor in his notoriously faltering testimony to Congress months later.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Afeela is entering the market at a time when federal support for EVs is low and public enthusiasm is faltering.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026
In some ways, the pair of them have become symbolic of the hope that this team can rise again after faltering in recent weeks.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The figures reinforce the extent to which consumer demand is faltering only two years after Tesla began delivering the electric pickup.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
After faltering in the crucial moments of its first postseason telecast, the stakes have now been raised for upcoming presentations.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Dubai, in particular, finds its position as the crown jewel of Middle East’s tourism faltering as its airports have been forced to shut temporarily during the conflict.
—Sydney Goh, CNBC, 4 Apr. 2026
Even if things don’t go exactly as planned, you’re braced to make any necessary adjustments without faltering.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 23 Feb. 2026
Unless regulators crack down on these deepfakes, the videos threaten to steer even more patients toward wasteful, potentially dangerous purchases — while further undermining the public’s already faltering trust in medical institutions.
—John Whyte, STAT, 17 Feb. 2026
The program also pledges to fulfill conditions for adopting the euro currency by 2030, and to invest in Hungary's faltering state health care and public transportation sectors.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
Many in town say the struggle to transform Scotia mirrors a larger struggle in Humboldt County, which has been rocked, first by the faltering of its logging industry and more recently by the collapse of its cannabis economy.
—Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
The Reds' season can be described as consistently inconsistent but playing well down the stretch and the New York Mets faltering has led to an opportunity to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2020.
—Jason Hoffman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Sep. 2025
And the media went along with her coverup, despite Biden’s obvious faltering.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Far from faltering, Lip-Bu Tan, who became chief executive of Intel in March 2025, is flourishing.
—Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2026
Milan supporters must hope that happens before the end of their faltering campaign.
—Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026
The faltering fiction offered here certainly doesn’t justify 10 episodes, the runtimes of which range from about 35 minutes to nearly an hour.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 7 Apr. 2026
That deal can't come soon enough for the president, as there are worrisome signs about the overall economy faltering due to the war, and even some Republicans are questioning his mission in the Middle East.
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
One of the best trades of the past year is faltering.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
Plus, home shoppers are more cautious given a faltering job market and growing economic uncertainty, meaning fewer homes are being snapped up quickly, Fairweather said.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
Mueller did not see it as his job to speak out—not then, nor in his notoriously faltering testimony to Congress months later.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Afeela is entering the market at a time when federal support for EVs is low and public enthusiasm is faltering.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
The Magic played well before faltering down the stretch and had to win an elimination game in the play-in tournament.
—ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026
In some ways, the pair of them have become symbolic of the hope that this team can rise again after faltering in recent weeks.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The figures reinforce the extent to which consumer demand is faltering only two years after Tesla began delivering the electric pickup.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
After faltering in the crucial moments of its first postseason telecast, the stakes have now been raised for upcoming presentations.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Dubai, in particular, finds its position as the crown jewel of Middle East’s tourism faltering as its airports have been forced to shut temporarily during the conflict.
—Sydney Goh, CNBC, 4 Apr. 2026
Even if things don’t go exactly as planned, you’re braced to make any necessary adjustments without faltering.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 23 Feb. 2026
Unless regulators crack down on these deepfakes, the videos threaten to steer even more patients toward wasteful, potentially dangerous purchases — while further undermining the public’s already faltering trust in medical institutions.
—John Whyte, STAT, 17 Feb. 2026
The program also pledges to fulfill conditions for adopting the euro currency by 2030, and to invest in Hungary's faltering state health care and public transportation sectors.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faltering
Noun
-
Chiron in your 2nd House highlights something tied to confidence or hesitation.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
-
In a moment demanding courage, discipline and split-second judgment, men and women charged with protecting the president moved without hesitation toward duty, even at personal risk.—
Letters to the Editor,
Washington Post,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The 2 ¼-inch wedge heel, combined with the ½-inch platform, gives you just enough height to look dressed up without feeling wobbly or unstable.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
20 Apr. 2026
-
My figures have two noses, two pairs of wobbly lips and lopsided torsos that often lean precariously to one side.—
Gabe Montesanti,
PEOPLE,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Trump has criticized European countries for rejecting or hesitating to get involved in the war with Iran.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The Academy seems comfortable celebrating individual excellence within horror while hesitating to crown its films as definitive achievements.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Scott will be 25 years old as a rookie, which gives the pairing some pause, but the Bills are currently without a backup nickel at this point.—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
And while the country experiences spectacular sunsets thanks to its varied landscapes, west-facing coast, and wide ocean views, few spots are as perfect for a momentary pause to watch the sun go down as in Lisbon.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Something that felt uncertain now becomes obvious.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
-
Whether there's enough support to pass such a measure is uncertain.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Upon your arrival, staffers on the ground floor usher you into elevators that whisk you up 55 stories, the doors opening to knee-wobbling views of the city and the Singapore Strait.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Each increase in weight amplifies these demands, ensuring the robot operates beyond routine conditions while maintaining consistency without wobbling or resets.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
State data suggests this hesitancy may continue into childhood.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Despite Pickford’s relative hesitancy to engage aerially, Everton have been one of the most effective teams in the league at defending corners, conceding just five goals, the joint third fewest in the Premier League.—
Matt Pyzdrowski,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
About one quarter, 26%, remain unsure; that response is unchanged since the youth poll's fall 2025 survey.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Looking unsure and a bit lost, VIPs from the Institute of Contemporary Art in Miami straggle into the dim underground garage of a nondescript Little Havana strip mall on a recent Saturday morning.—
Carl Juste,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Faltering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faltering. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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