1
as in to falter
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 to stagger
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 to hesitate
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 teeter
The policy helped cut Louisiana's uninsured rate in half and shored up rural hospitals that had been teetering on closure.
—
Drew Hawkins, NPR, 28 Aug. 2025
The economy was teetering on the edge when the crisis became full-blown in October 1907.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 26 Aug. 2025
America’s closest ally was teetering on the precipice of collapse to a maniacal leader, which would give the Nazis control of Europe.
—Doug Most
august 20, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2025
Maybe the value of its equity will decline in the short term but the company isn’t teetering the way Lehman Brothers was in 2007.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for teeter
Drew Hawkins, NPR, 28 Aug. 2025
The economy was teetering on the edge when the crisis became full-blown in October 1907.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 26 Aug. 2025
America’s closest ally was teetering on the precipice of collapse to a maniacal leader, which would give the Nazis control of Europe.
—Doug Most
august 20, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2025
Maybe the value of its equity will decline in the short term but the company isn’t teetering the way Lehman Brothers was in 2007.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for teeter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teeter
Verb
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As the business cycle… cycles, eventually growth will falter.—
George Calhoun,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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But their defense, which had been their strong suit in recent seasons, faltered greatly and was also a major factor in their poor showing.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Roughly two-thirds of the state’s billionaires made their fortunes in finance and investments, including richest resident (former NYC mayor) Michael Bloomberg, who’s worth staggering $109 billion.—
Ella Malmgren,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Losing Garcia for any length of time would further stagger an Astros pitching staff that can ill afford any more attrition.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In Larsen’s view, striking at the right moment - whether in blockchain, AI, or precision medicine - requires not only patience but also the courage to act decisively when others hesitate.—
Francois Botha,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Some executives hesitated, unsure of what to expect.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Jurors saw some wobbling footage that appeared to be taken from inside a bush, though prosecutors did not explicitly make clear if the footage was taken from Routh's perch.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
12 Sep. 2025
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With job growth tanking and the economy wobbling, pressure is on for the Federal Reserve to start lowering interest rates, with markets now expecting a cut at each of the three remaining meetings this year.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As bystanders watched, the luxury yacht lurched to one side, tilting dangerously before taking on water.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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In the face of this onslaught, the alcohol industry’s efforts to make drinking popular again have lurched into paranoia.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Stocks vacillated Friday, with the major averages falling during midday trading after making a move to all-time highs earlier in the day.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
5 Sep. 2025
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Lawsuits have followed many of these funding actions, and the subsequent back-and-forth legal battles have left some grants vacillating between canceled and reinstated.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In the elevator of the Associated Press Building at Rockefeller Plaza, Sunny’s brows trembled.—
Kiran Desai,
New Yorker,
3 Aug. 2025
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But then the cheers from his fans would begin, and Hogan would tremble with energy.—
John DeVore,
Rolling Stone,
26 July 2025
Verb
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As Joe Biden tottered and fell (literally as well as metaphorically), more than a few pundits compared him to Lear, a man who was ruined by age, pride, and the flattery of sycophants.—
Tyler Austin Harper,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2025
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Dina Tomczak, the school’s athletic director, tottered into her office having barely slept.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Teeter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teeter. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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