1
as in hesitated
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in trembled
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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Recent Examples of faltered
Negotiations over the subsidies, a Biden-era benefit that lapsed at the end of 2025, have faltered once before and were at the center of a 43-day government shutdown last year, the longest on record.
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David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 6 Jan. 2026
The Chiefs were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs last month, as the once-dominant team led by Kelce and quarterback Patrick Mahomes faltered in close games throughout the year.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
As Pope Francis’s health faltered, the issue figured in the thumbnail biographies of his prospective successors assembled by media outlets from the Times to the traditionalist website CatholicVote, and advocates for survivors of clergy abuse have continued to raise it.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
But the Kings’ offense faltered in the third while Phoenix intensified its defense, holding Sacramento to 33% shooting as the lead grew to 18.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Beset by gangs and guns, the Haçienda faltered in the ’90s despite clever-sounding schemes such as replacing the club’s security with the gangsters themselves.
—Andrew Holter, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 2025
With a one-serve-per-point rule in effect, both players faltered on their deliveries in crucial moments before Kyrgios broke for a 4-3 lead and went on to take the opening set.
—CNN Money, 28 Dec. 2025
The Broncos in 2024 faltered defensively down the stretch.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025
DeSantis’ 2022 congressional map helped the GOP pick up seats and keep control of the House in that year’s election, when predictions of a Republican surge at the ballot box largely faltered outside Florida.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faltered
Verb
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The woman hesitated at first but then let Sylvain into her apartment.—
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Sanchez hesitated at first about the idea of being on camera, but his loyalty to Gutiérrez proved stronger than the reservations.—
Verb
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Many have been subject to rising costs as supply chains have wobbled during the Russian war in the Ukraine.—
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The peso had wobbled in recent days after a regional election spurred fears Milei would underperform in the midterm vote, prompting a $20 billion bailout promise from the US, which sees him as an ally.—
Verb
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Earth shuddered with yet another wave of extinctions in this initial chill.—
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For much of last season, Atletico appeared set to seriously compete on all fronts, but their season shuddered to a stop in March with a series of disappointing defeats by Barcelona and Madrid across La Liga, Copa del Rey and the Champions League.—
Verb
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And Tagovailoa shook off that early interception with a 9-yard scoring pass to Malik Washington — capping a ferocious seven-minute, 92-yard drive — and then a 38-yard TD strike to Jaylen Waddle.—
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Miller finished with 129 yards on 18 carries, while Jayden Maiava shook off a poor day throwing the ball with 62 yards and a touchdown on 11 attempts.—
Verb
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Pamela Anderson has rocked a bob for some time now, but her latest 'do includes pops of pastel pink.—
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That’s a huge decline from the 125 homicides that rocked the city in 2023.—
Verb
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The calm that never wavered when the game tilted.—
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While his faith and the belief in his abilities never wavered during the dark times the past year, Gaffney can’t help but smile.—
Verb
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The relentless Chacon lurched outside after her just as his car door opened and out popped their 6-year-old son, begging his dad to stop.—
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New year optimism was certainly in short supply inside Anfield as the mood lurched from restlessness to exasperation and then anger.—
Cite this Entry
“Faltered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faltered. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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