Faltering — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun adjective /ˈfȯl-tər/ fal·ter

Meaning & Definition of Faltering

Faltering (verb)

  1. to walk unsteadily, stumble
  2. to give way, totter
  3. to move waveringly or hesitatingly

Faltering (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action

    "when it's so clear that this is the right thing to do, there's no excuse for faltering"

    similar: fence-sitting, hesitance, hesitancy, hesitation, indecision, irresolution, pause, shilly-shally, shilly-shallying, vacillation, wavering, wobbling
    related: delay, hawing, procrastination, waiting, arrière-pensée, misgiving, second thought, consideration, debate, deliberation, doubt, incertitude, indecisiveness, indetermination, uncertainness, uncertainty, avoidance, equivocation, aversion, disinclination, indisposition, reluctance, unwillingness, faintheartedness, shyness, timidity, timidness
    near: certainty, certitude, confidence, decisiveness, determination, firmness, resoluteness, resolution, sureness, alacrity, eagerness, readiness

Faltering (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in uncertain, unsure

    similar: doubtful, irresolute, questioning, uncertain, undecided, unsure, vacillating, wobbly, ambivalent, conflicted, equivocal, afraid, disinclined, dubious, hesitant, indisposed, loath, reluctant
    opposite: unambivalent, certain, decided, resolute, sure, unquestioning

Faltering (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to show uncertainty about the right course of action

    "William Lloyd Garrison never once faltered in his demand that slavery be unconditionally abolished"

    similar: balancing, dithering, halting, hanging back, hesitating, scrupling, shilly-shallying, staggering, teetering, vacillating, wavering, wobbling
    related: hawing, hemming, dallying, dawdling, delaying, lingering, pausing, procrastinating, waiting, backing down, chickening (out), considering, debating, deliberating, pondering, weighing, oscillating, swaying, equivocating, hedging, pussyfooting, waffling
    opposite: diving (in), plunging (in)
    near: deciding, budging, stirring, advancing, continuing

  2. 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"

    similar: rocking, teetering, tottering, wavering, wobbling
    related: floundering, lurching, stumbling, toddling, quaking, quavering, quivering, shaking, shuddering, trembling, vibrating, careening, reeling, staggering, weaving

Related Entry: Falter (verb)

Falter is a different word from Faltering. The synonyms below are for falter, not for faltering.

  1. to show uncertainty about the right course of action

    "William Lloyd Garrison never once faltered in his demand that slavery be unconditionally abolished"

    similar: balance, dither, halt, hang back, hesitate, scruple, shilly-shally, stagger, teeter, vacillate, waver, wobble
    related: haw, hem, dally, dawdle, delay, linger, pause, procrastinate, wait, back down, chicken (out), consider, debate, deliberate, ponder, weigh, oscillate, sway, equivocate, hedge, pussyfoot, waffle
    opposite: dive (in), plunge (in)
    near: decide, budge, stir, advance, continue

  2. 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"

    similar: rock, teeter, totter, waver, wobble
    related: flounder, lurch, stumble, toddle, quake, quaver, quiver, shake, shudder, tremble, vibrate, careen, reel, stagger, weave

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Faltering

The most common words with a similar meaning to Faltering:

fence-sitting, hesitance, hesitancy, hesitation, indecision, irresolution, pause, shilly-shally, shilly-shallying, vacillation, wavering, wobbling, doubtful, irresolute, questioning, uncertain, undecided, unsure, vacillating, wobbly, ambivalent, conflicted, equivocal, afraid, disinclined, dubious, hesitant, indisposed, loath, reluctant, balancing, dithering, halting, hanging back, hesitating, scrupling, staggering, teetering, rocking, tottering

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Faltering

Words with the opposite meaning of Faltering:

unambivalent, certain, decided, resolute, sure, unquestioning, diving (in), plunging (in)

Related Words for Faltering

delay, hawing, procrastination, waiting, arrière-pensée, misgiving, second thought, consideration, debate, deliberation, doubt, incertitude, indecisiveness, indetermination, uncertainness, uncertainty, avoidance, equivocation, aversion, disinclination, indisposition, reluctance, unwillingness, faintheartedness, shyness, timidity, timidness, hemming, dallying, dawdling

Near Antonyms of Faltering

certainty, certitude, confidence, decisiveness, determination, firmness, resoluteness, resolution, sureness, alacrity, eagerness, readiness, deciding, budging, stirring, advancing, continuing

Word Forms of Faltering

Inflections: faltered

Derived words: falterer (noun), falteringly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Faltering

Middle English

First known use: 14th centuryi

Frequently Asked Questions about Faltering

What does "Faltering" mean?

"Faltering" means to walk unsteadily, stumble. As an a verb, a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: to walk unsteadily, stumble. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Faltering"?

Other words for "Faltering" include fence-sitting, hesitance, hesitancy, hesitation, indecision, irresolution, pause and shilly-shally. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Faltering" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Faltering"?

There are 101 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Faltering". Common alternatives include fence-sitting, hesitance, hesitancy, hesitation, indecision, irresolution, pause, shilly-shally, shilly-shallying and vacillation.

What is the opposite of "Faltering"?

Antonyms of "Faltering" include unambivalent, certain, decided, resolute, sure, unquestioning, diving (in) and plunging (in). Near antonyms include certainty, certitude, confidence and decisiveness.

How do you use "Faltering" in a sentence?

Examples of "Faltering" in a sentence: "when it's so clear that this is the right thing to do, there's no excuse for faltering"; "William Lloyd Garrison never once faltered in his demand that slavery be unconditionally abolished"; "the cut tree seemed to falter for a moment before crashing to the ground".

Is "Faltering" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Faltering" can be used as a verb, a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Faltering"?

"Faltering" is pronounced /ˈfȯl-tər/ and divided into syllables as fal·ter.

What is the origin of the word "Faltering"?

"Faltering" comes from Middle English. First known use: 14th centuryi.