1
as in faltered
to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side
he nervously teetered at the edge of the pool before finally diving in
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in lurched
to move forward while swaying from side to side
the toddler teetered down the rink in her new ice skates
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in hesitated
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
was teetering on the brink of making a decision about college
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of teetered
The crushing amount of what was owed was so dire that the city teetered on the brink of bankruptcy and its debt was downgraded to junk.
—
Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2026
Two cars teetered at the jagged edge, their noses tipped skyward, almost frozen in the instant before a plunge.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
Several Labour lawmakers and the party's leader in Scotland called for Starmer to resign, his chief of staff and communications director quit, and his premiership teetered on the brink.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
Several Labor lawmakers and the party’s leader in Scotland called for Starmer to resign, his chief of staff and communications director quit, and his premiership teetered on the brink.
—Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
Earlier this month, Sarandos was grilled by a Senate committee in an antitrust hearing that often teetered on the edge of the profoundly unserious.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 Feb. 2026
For a species that once teetered on the very edge of extinction, every healthy young wombat caught on camera represents a quiet but powerful victory.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Dent and Booker were failing to turn their fate as UCLA teetered on the bubble in desperate need of a significant victory.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
Since then, employment has teetered down in some months and up in others.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Feb. 2026
Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2026
Two cars teetered at the jagged edge, their noses tipped skyward, almost frozen in the instant before a plunge.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
Several Labour lawmakers and the party's leader in Scotland called for Starmer to resign, his chief of staff and communications director quit, and his premiership teetered on the brink.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
Several Labor lawmakers and the party’s leader in Scotland called for Starmer to resign, his chief of staff and communications director quit, and his premiership teetered on the brink.
—Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
Earlier this month, Sarandos was grilled by a Senate committee in an antitrust hearing that often teetered on the edge of the profoundly unserious.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 Feb. 2026
For a species that once teetered on the very edge of extinction, every healthy young wombat caught on camera represents a quiet but powerful victory.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Dent and Booker were failing to turn their fate as UCLA teetered on the bubble in desperate need of a significant victory.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
Since then, employment has teetered down in some months and up in others.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teetered
Verb
-
Washington led 111-106 with 6 1/2 minutes remaining, but the Wizards defense faltered after that.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Fland’s defense — his calling card — faltered on the decisive play.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Since then, the larger culture has lurched rightward, with big corporations abandoning progressive signaling in favor of…other priorities.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Over the course of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s term, CPS has lurched from budget crisis to budget crisis, able only to muddle through due to record-breaking mayoral declarations of tax-increment-financing surpluses.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
While much of Manhattan hesitated, the ultra-wealthy kept moving—and in some cases, moving quickly when the right opportunity appeared.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
4 Apr. 2026
-
When the girl hesitated, embarrassed, the boy insisted.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Semiconductors, the last remnant of tech-stock leadership, have wobbled, including some severe profit-taking in memory stocks.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Powerhouse Duke wobbled into an improbable, surreal 11-point halftime deficit against Siena.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Hunt times are staggered according to age groups.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Plus, the Herro and Powell minutes likely will continue to be as staggered as when one started and one played in reserve, with Herro subbed out midway through Wednesday night’s first quarter.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When Bradford delivered the detail about the sandwich, the board and attendees laughed and shook their heads.—
Chevall Pryce,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Stocks shook off an early stumble to finish with slim gains on Wall Street Thursday and close out their first winning week since the start of the Iran war.—
Damian J. Troise,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On the floor, waist-high piles of books tottered like miniature leaning towers of Pisa.—
The Christian Science Monitor,
Christian Science Monitor,
12 June 2025
Verb
-
But the war with Iran has rocked markets, sending the Dow and Nasdaq into correction territory.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The horrific shooting has rocked the Plainville community, with its reverberations being felt throughout the state.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Teetered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teetered. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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