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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of teeter
But the company needed to stage an emergency $350,000 fund drive to make that production possible, and has been teetering financially since 2020, when pandemic shut down its entire season.
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Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2024
There’s still a bit of that postwar optimism, but that’s starting to teeter, and that’s represented by what’s happening in the business.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2024
Yet in spite of its nationwide fame, this animal teetered on the brink of extinction just a few years ago.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
Even before last week’s crisis, Cuba was already teetering on an energy crisis with an aging power grid and looming fuel shortages.
—Justine Calma, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for teeter 
Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2024
There’s still a bit of that postwar optimism, but that’s starting to teeter, and that’s represented by what’s happening in the business.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2024
Yet in spite of its nationwide fame, this animal teetered on the brink of extinction just a few years ago.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
Even before last week’s crisis, Cuba was already teetering on an energy crisis with an aging power grid and looming fuel shortages.
—Justine Calma, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for teeter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teeter
Verb
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Were Russia to falter in the war and start seeking an exit, countries outside Europe could be vital to the ensuing diplomacy.Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024
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After the recession took hold and the business faltered, Valley bought the company back to reposition it as a direct-to-consumer brand and launched an e-commerce business Alvin Valley Direct.Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
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The Peach, Rose, and Sugar bowls will be staggered throughout the day on Jan. 1.Ross Terrell, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
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That moment came in the third round when the champ staggered the ex-champ with a right.Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
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But because spinners are so popular now, many hunters hesitate to run them, especially on pressured ducks.Joe Arterburn, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024
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Don’t hesitate to do your best and implement a change that stimulates personal growth or self-improvement.Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The deer slows, turns broadside, wobbles a bit, then falls dead.Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2024
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All these policies would help Black and Latino families, and so might shore up their wobbling loyalty to the Democratic Party.Nicholas Lemann, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Verb
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During Trump's first term, freedom of the press in the United States lurched downward, as did trust in media.David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
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Promptly, with one short blast of the foghorn, the boat lurched under his feet.Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
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By this measurement, Milton would have remained a Category 5 until mid-Wednesday rather than vacillating between 4 and 5.Alec Luhn, WIRED, 9 Oct. 2024
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Their subterranean seaside stone bunker is awesome, as is the film’s score, which vacillates between free jazz, drone, and psych guitar.Katie Rife, Vulture, 21 June 2024
Verb
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Even before stepping into the White House again, Trump’s plans have the Federal Reserve trembling.Peter Green, Quartz, 9 Nov. 2024
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At a rally in North Carolina last week, Trump mentioned Obama getting back on the trail and made his voice tremble in fake terror before dismissing him.Alex Thompson, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024
Verb
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European auto sales charts are filled with red ink as economies totter but a rare positive story surrounds Toyota’s premium subsidy Lexus, which will be helped by its newest electric vehicle, the RZ 300e.Neil Winton, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
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America was full of hope, tottering hastily toward a technological age filled with grand expectations for the future.Ruby Thélot, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near teeter
Cite this Entry
“Teeter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teeter. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
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