STAGGER Synonyms: 71 Similar and Opposite Words

stagger

verb

ˈsta-gər

Definition of stagger

as in to lurch

to move forward while swaying from side to side I was so tired last night that I just staggered upstairs to bed without eating dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to falter

to show uncertainty about the right course of action a daunting problem that would make even the most decisive person stagger just a bit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 stagger Employers staggered work schedules, commuters mapped alternate routes and many residents avoided the city altogether. — Andrea Clement, AJC.com, 17 July 2026 This proposal establishes staggered 18-year terms of active service, allowing every president to appoint exactly two justices per term. — Dale V.c. Holness, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2026 Clay Lockhart staggered back to his house, shoulders bent under the weight of grief and the work of digging. — Literary Hub, 9 July 2026 Arrivals were staggered with people having to wait for hours with nothing to do. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for stagger

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stagger

Verb

Republicans see Democrats lurching to the left and embracing socialism as an opening to link their opponents to the far more radical communism.

— Garrett Downs, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026
Markets have lurched up and down as oil prices shot higher because of the war with Iran.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of lurch

Verb

Extreme heat is redefining electricity as emergency infrastructure, pushing grids to their limits as demand soars and supply falters.

— Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Two decades’ worth of Chinese investments in research and foreign policy are coming into bloom, Osnos writes, at the same moment that America is faltering on the world stage.

— David Remnick, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of falter

Verb

Like a lot of us who tottered into consciousness in the second half of the 20th century, Les Claypool grew up with cartoons from the family television beaming into his retinas.

— Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 2 Aug. 2026
Outside, a gull tottered to the window and tapped its beak against the glass.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026

Definition of totter

Verb

Black Bear’s Wicker, based on author Ursula Wills-Jones’s short story, The Wicker Husband, follows a fisherwoman (Olivia Colman) who commissions the local basketmaker (Peter Dinklage) to weave her a husband (Skarsgård).

— Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026
The Hour of the Star, in particular, drops us into the electric landscape of 1970s Brazil, following a young (ugly) girl’s love (situationship) with a rat of a boyfriend while weaving through themes of identity, inwardness, and social class.

— Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of weave

Verb

Pochettino was hired in 2024 to right the ship after the men's team stumbled in a crucial tournament in the run-up to this summer's World Cup.

— Becky Sullivan, NPR, 3 Aug. 2026
Facebook stumbled out of the gate and trended lower for months before bottoming at less than half its IPO price.

— Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of stumble

Verb

The Red Sox had cruised to a 13-1 win on Friday night, rolling to that victory one night after rallying five times against the White Sox in a 13-inning marathon.

— Curt Anderson, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
When rolling, it is recommended to run the pasta through a pasta machine at the thickest setting first, then fold the pasta strip over itself into 3 thicknesses and repeat, before moving down a setting.

— Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of roll

Verb

The results indicated continued progress in CVS' broader turnaround plan, which has involved cutting $2 billion in costs, closing underperforming stores, shuffling leadership and reducing costs within Medicare Advantage plans.

— Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026
Few heads turn despite her tall, unmistakable frame shuffling across the floor.

— Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of shuffle

Browse Nearby Words

stages

stagger

staggered

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Style

“Stagger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stagger. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of stagger

verb

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