FALTER Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'falter' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of falter are hesitate , vacillate , and waver . While all these words mean "to show irresolution or uncertainty," falter implies a wavering or stumbling and often connotes nervousness, lack of courage, or outright fear. // never once faltered during her testimony

Q: When would 'hesitate' be a good substitute for 'falter'?

The words hesitate and falter can be used in similar contexts, but hesitate implies a pause before deciding or acting or choosing. // hesitated before answering the question

Q: When is 'vacillate' a more appropriate choice than 'falter'?

The synonyms vacillate and falter are sometimes interchangeable, but vacillate implies prolonged hesitation from inability to reach a firm decision. // vacillated until events were out of control

Q: In what contexts can 'waver' take the place of 'falter'?

In some situations, the words waver and falter are roughly equivalent. However, waver implies hesitation after seeming to decide and so connotes weakness or a retreat. // wavered in his support of the rebels

falter

verb

ˈfȯl-tər

Definition of falter

as in to hesitate

to show uncertainty about the right course of action William Lloyd Garrison never once faltered in his demand that slavery be unconditionally abolished

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to tremble

to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side the cut tree seemed to falter for a moment before crashing to the ground

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the verb falter differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of falter are hesitate, vacillate, and waver. While all these words mean "to show irresolution or uncertainty," falter implies a wavering or stumbling and often connotes nervousness, lack of courage, or outright fear.

never once faltered during her testimony

When would hesitate be a good substitute for falter?

The words hesitate and falter can be used in similar contexts, but hesitate implies a pause before deciding or acting or choosing.

hesitated before answering the question

When is vacillate a more appropriate choice than falter?

The synonyms vacillate and falter are sometimes interchangeable, but vacillate implies prolonged hesitation from inability to reach a firm decision.

vacillated until events were out of control

In what contexts can waver take the place of falter?

In some situations, the words waver and falter are roughly equivalent. However, waver implies hesitation after seeming to decide and so connotes weakness or a retreat.

wavered in his support of the rebels

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 falter But to arrest that decline, governments will have to address the faltering state capacity that is driving it. — Jennifer Pahlka, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 After Stearns and Kostyuk won the first six points, the Williams sisters cut the deficit to one before eventually faltering on Venus’ double-fault on the final point. — Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026 Even when teams share a common purpose, group conversations can still falter when responsibility is unclear. — Alison Wood Brooks, Harvard Business Review, 17 Aug. 2026 But those assurances quickly faltered, ‌human rights groups say. — Reuters, NBC news, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for falter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for falter

Verb

Changing the clock gets complicated There are reasons school districts that accept the science on adolescent sleep still hesitate to change their schedules.

— Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 25 Aug. 2026
Though her books continue to be adapted into movies and recurring series, Moriarty has always hesitated to write a sequel.

— Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of hesitate

Verb

The ball wobbled, but Fields got underneath it for about a 40-yard catch.

— Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026
The thunder sound was a combination of wobbling window of shades of the ’40s to achieve that old school thunder sound that was layered in with some newer thunderclap sounds.

— Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of wobble

Verb

Miami likely will hold off on signing a 15th player to a standard contract, at least for now, in order to see who shakes free in the buyout market.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026
For some, fall fashion starts with color, working in warm browns and flashes of crimson red or shaking typical neutrals up with pops of cobalt blue.

— Minty Mellon, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of shake

Verb

At times, Arizona has wavered between the NL’s second and third wild-card spots; however, after going 5-5 over its past 10 games, the team is on the outside looking in, sitting one game back of the San Diego Padres.

— Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Senator Bill Cassidy also wavered, but said he was persuaded by the vow.

— David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of waver

Verb

On Thursday, Clancy loudly sobbed, shuddered and covered her face with her hands as a medical examiner testified about Callan’s autopsy.

— Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Speaking to the media before England’s 3-2 victory over Mexico in the World Cup last 16, England manager Thomas Tuchel gave an update on Declan Rice that would make Arsenal fans shudder.

— Nnamdi Onyeagwara, New York Times, 13 July 2026

Definition of shudder

Browse Nearby Words

falsity

falter

faltered

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“Falter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/falter. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of falter

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