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
Not only from a profile and pedigree perspective, but in terms of adding further burdens to a wage bill that was already teetering on the edge.
—
Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025
Which can pose a challenge to a director, who must ride a Shepard balance board, teetering between the somber and the sardonic, the real and the metaphorical.
—Maya Phillips, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
Scorched by multiple fires, the property was teetering on the edge of being a blight and a nuisance in downtown San Jose, in the view of some observers.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2025
For a show that has stood the test of time — watching other televisual behemoths rise and die out over the course of a lifespan that is only rivaled by the advent of the TV itself — SNL is perhaps always teetering beyond the present, either glazing over with nostalgia or darting to the days ahead.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for teeter
Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025
Which can pose a challenge to a director, who must ride a Shepard balance board, teetering between the somber and the sardonic, the real and the metaphorical.
—Maya Phillips, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
Scorched by multiple fires, the property was teetering on the edge of being a blight and a nuisance in downtown San Jose, in the view of some observers.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2025
For a show that has stood the test of time — watching other televisual behemoths rise and die out over the course of a lifespan that is only rivaled by the advent of the TV itself — SNL is perhaps always teetering beyond the present, either glazing over with nostalgia or darting to the days ahead.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for teeter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teeter
Verb
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Why do so many organizations falter in executing their strategies?—
Forrester,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
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However, the Northern Irishman’s blazing play would falter a bit, bogeying the 14th hole while Spaun birdied the 14th and 16th holes.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
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This contract meets the 10-year deferral requirement, and if the deferred payments are equally staggered over the 10 years, the second requirement would be met as well.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
11 Mar. 2025
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Then, a choice of starters arrives slowly and staggered with wines accompanying them.—
Rachel Dube,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Reach out to people, don’t hesitate to ask questions and don’t always focus on specializing—the world out there today is (often) seeking generalists.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
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Lilian hesitated and said there was something else that Dr. Fenton might want to know, which had nothing to do with the infection and was not the reason for the appointment.—
Yiyun Li,
The New Yorker,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
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As tariffs rise, supply chains fracture and global markets wobble, one question looms large: Where should investors seek refuge?—
Ivan Illan,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
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It’s been nearly six weeks since Joe Biden left office, but Trump is still eager to use his predecessor as a punching bag as the economy wobbles.—
Joey Garrison,
USA TODAY,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Paranoid – Black Sabbath If Black Sabbath was the birth of doom, Paranoid was the moment the monster lurched to its feet, six stories tall and stomping toward the future of heavy music.—
Darryn King,
Forbes,
15 Mar. 2025
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Still, the cost is low compared with historical home prices that saw fast growth after the Great Recession then lurched further skyward during the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Nick Rosenberger,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Trump tapped Musk to lead DOGE, but the administration’s description of Musk’s role has also vacillated between heading DOGE and working as a senior adviser with no DOGE authority, depending on the context of the situation.—
Ashley Oliver,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
8 Mar. 2025
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Even her bark is indecisive, like a steam whistle that vacillates between two unpleasant notes.—
Frank C. Hibben,
Outdoor Life,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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When people are going through withdrawal from drugs, symptoms can generally include agitation, diarrhea, nausea, sweating, chills, stomach cramps, muscle aches, trembling, appetite changes, sweating, fatigue, depression, vomiting, seizures and intense cravings, experts said.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN,
28 Feb. 2025
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The ground from which their enchanted garden grows, is trembling.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
10 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The country’s economy is tottering and reliant on IMF bailouts, while the powerful military is entrenched in every aspect of life, according to its critics.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN,
22 Feb. 2025
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If the bottom falls out of, say, the Chinese real-estate market—among the largest asset classes in the world—the entire global economy could totter.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
The New Yorker,
24 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Teeter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teeter. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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