doddering 1 of 2

present participle of dodder

doddering

2 of 2

adjective

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 doddering
Verb
Once upon a time, a doddering old man spoke of a dream about a united city in this empire’s capital, where every man, woman, and child could walk its streets and live a good life regardless of their patrician or plebeian birthright. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2024 That’s when Broadbent’s whimsical eyes take over, splitting the difference between doddering old coot and magical elf. Katie Rife, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024 Tokarczuk presents her doddering old narrator as an essentially righteous avenger, cutting down those despoilers of the earth whom the vegetarian author abhors. Robert Rubsam, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2024 As the doddering Gus the Theatre Cat, McKellen easily outshone his younger co-stars, who included Taylor Swift and Jennifer Hudson. Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 13 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for doddering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for doddering
Adjective
  • Back on the domestic front, Jeanine has reason to believe that her husband, Paul (Mark O’Brien), is having an affair with her senile mother’s caregiver.
    Michael Rechtshaffen, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2023
  • In one story, Earn’s seemingly routine trip to church with Gloria, Jeanie, and his senile grandfather (Bob Banks) goes pear-shaped when Gloria abruptly drives off with her dad, leaving behind Earn and a bewildered Jeanie, who has recently been their father’s caretaker.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2022
Adjective
  • The groom’s elderly aunt had to be helped inside with signs of heat exhaustion.
    Nicholas Rice, People.com, 5 July 2025
  • Offenders typically target elderly Asian women and convince them that a member of their family is cursed or in danger.
    Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • All these developments are vying for Ohio's highly-competitive historic tax credits, which are vital for bringing decrepit buildings back to life.
    Sydney Franklin, Cincinnati Enquirer, 20 May 2025
  • Malls, train stations and even decrepit bus terminals transformed into overnight refuges.
    Deborah Danan, Sun Sentinel, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • But the $12 billion decline in his fortune has more to do with asset shuffling than stock price movement.
    Julie Goldenberg, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
  • James has been shuffling back and forth between the NBA and the G League.
    Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Assemble a planning team that includes an elder law attorney, a financial advisor experienced with disability planning, and potentially a geriatric care manager.
    Matthew F. Erskine, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • The reforms to medical and geriatric parole, which will go into effect on Oct. 1, are essential and shamefully overdue.
    Natasha Dartigue, Baltimore Sun, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • Craft is the connective tissue of our history, weaving itself through each iteration and enabling new players to interpret it in novel ways.
    Bill Connolly, Rolling Stone, 30 Dec. 2024
  • But police must notice a primary violation, such as speeding or weaving across lanes, to cite motorists for violating the cellphone law.
    David A. Lieb, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Wilson plays Pryce Cahill, an over-the-hill ex-pro golfer whose career was derailed prematurely 20 years ago.
    Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 31 May 2025
  • Wilson stars as Pryce Cahill, an over-the-hill, ex-pro golfer whose career was derailed 20 years ago amid a scandal.
    Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 8 May 2025
Adjective
  • Theresa May and her spavined colleagues would be responsible for that distrust, but life is unfair and Boris would carry the can.
    John O'Sullivan, National Review, 9 July 2019
  • The series took a chunk out of both the recklessness of the Texas state government and out of the spavined state of the EPA and OSHA even under President Obama, the latter problems having gotten worse under the current administration.
    Charles P. Pierce, Esquire, 31 Aug. 2017

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Cite this Entry

“Doddering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doddering. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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