1
as in to lurch
to move forward while swaying from side to side
I was so tired last night that I just staggered upstairs to bed without eating dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to falter
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
a daunting problem that would make even the most decisive person stagger just a bit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 stagger
Steely and deliberate songwriting that casually staggers down the line between rhythm and melody, laced with loose yet conscious jams.
—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
22 June 2026
To ensure Miami 305 can still meet the league's minimum roster requirements, the suspensions will be staggered.
—
Amber Harding Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
22 June 2026
To stagger the terms, governors in those three branches were elected this year to one-, two- or three-year terms, with the process reverting to the standard one-governor-per-branch, three-year cycle in 2027.
—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
15 June 2026
Offer flexible or part-time schedules or stagger the return to work.
—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for stagger
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
22 June 2026
To ensure Miami 305 can still meet the league's minimum roster requirements, the suspensions will be staggered.
—
Amber Harding Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
22 June 2026
To stagger the terms, governors in those three branches were elected this year to one-, two- or three-year terms, with the process reverting to the standard one-governor-per-branch, three-year cycle in 2027.
—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
15 June 2026
Offer flexible or part-time schedules or stagger the return to work.
—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for stagger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stagger
Verb
-
Once, somewhere in southern Virginia, Dad performed the customary lurch off the highway in the direction of a promising barbecue counter.
-
The same boom-and-bust dependency on the oil industry, whose profits were now funnelled through the regime and its allies, kept the country lurching from one crisis to the next.
Verb
-
And once performance falters, customers are likely to lose faith in your brand.
-
Russell Henley also made a 4-under push on Sunday to finish 10-under, while Cam Young faltered in the final pairing with a 1-over round to finish 10-under as well.
Verb
-
In an accompanying cartoon, Spark is caricatured as a sulking giant, tottering above the Tuscan countryside in a pair of high heels.
-
Among them a City boy wearing three Fit-Bit-type devices, two beautiful Middle Eastern sisters, an outrageously pompous elderly American (sorry; eavesdropping), and several Imelda Marcos lookalikes, tottering out of the treatment rooms with, somehow, their elaborate hairstyles still intact.
Verb
-
When King asked if the unnamed celebrity was the one, Brown didn't hesitate.
-
The girls don’t hesitate to lay into him either with Trinity, Melanie, and Aniya all coming to Kenzie’s impassioned defense.
Verb
-
Experienced vine dressers weave the canes into basket-like forms that rest close to the island’s volcanic soil, protecting grapes from wind and harsh conditions.
-
Wingate weaves this historical horror with a modern-day mystery, illustrating the lasting trauma of children stolen for profit and the unbreakable bond of blood.
Verb
-
Scientists have stumbled on a rare dinosaur fossil from Antarctica, tucked away for decades in a drawer.
-
However, Portugal stumbled in its opening match, managing only a 1–1 draw against the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Verb
-
And, catcher Logan O’Hoppe walked off the series finale against the Orioles with a slow-rolling infield single in extra innings the next day.
-
At one point, comedian Nikki Glaser rolled down her window and quickly rolled it back up.
Verb
-
As soon as the game wrapped up, those guests shuffled out, and hours later were replaced by a rowdier group ordering shots at the bar, dancing to 2000s hits in front of the DJ booth and smoking vape pens on the outdoor patio.
-
Pretoria responded to the threat of violence in June 30 protests with millions of dollars shuffled inside the police budget, tactical units deployed, and soldiers on standby.
Cite this Entry
“Stagger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stagger. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
