Tottering — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈtä-tə-riŋ/ tot·ter·ing

Meaning & Definition of Tottering

Tottering (adjective)

  1. being in an unstable condition
  2. walking unsteadily
  3. lacking firmness or stability, insecure

Tottering (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements

    "after the accident, she was only able to take a few tottering steps at a time"

    similar: aquiver, atremble, quaking, quavery, quivering, shaking, shaky, shuddering, shuddery, tottery, trembling, trembly, tremulous, wobbling, wobbly
    related: convulsive, shivering, shivery, rocky, staggery, unstable, unsteady, wavering, wavery, palpitating, pulsating, throbbing
    near: controlled, firm, settled, stable, steady

Tottering (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to move forward while swaying from side to side

    "tottered around the house as she practiced walking in high heels"

    similar: careening, doddering, lurching, reeling, staggering, teetering, waddling
    related: rocking, rolling, seesawing, swagging, swaying, wavering, weaving, wobbling, barging, blundering, clomping, clumping, floundering, galumphing, lumbering, lumping, pounding, scuffing, scuffling, shambling, shuffling, stamping, stomping, stumbling, tramping, tromping

  2. to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side

    "the figurine tottered precariously for a moment before falling off the shelf"

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

Related Entry: Totter (verb)

Totter is a different word from Tottering. The synonyms below are for totter, not for tottering.

  1. to move forward while swaying from side to side

    "tottered around the house as she practiced walking in high heels"

    similar: careen, dodder, lurch, reel, stagger, teeter, waddle
    related: rock, roll, seesaw, swag, sway, waver, weave, wobble, barge, blunder, clomp, clump, flounder, galumph, lumber, lump, pound, scuff, scuffle, shamble, shuffle, stamp, stomp, stumble, tramp, tromp

  2. to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side

    "the figurine tottered precariously for a moment before falling off the shelf"

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

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Tottering

The most common words with a similar meaning to Tottering:

aquiver, atremble, quaking, quavery, quivering, shaking, shaky, shuddering, shuddery, tottery, trembling, trembly, tremulous, wobbling, wobbly, careening, doddering, lurching, reeling, staggering, teetering, waddling, faltering, rocking, wavering

Related Words for Tottering

convulsive, shivering, shivery, rocky, staggery, unstable, unsteady, wavery, palpitating, pulsating, throbbing, rolling, seesawing, swagging, swaying, weaving, barging, blundering, clomping, clumping, floundering, galumphing, lumbering, lumping, pounding, scuffing, scuffling, shambling, shuffling, stamping

Near Antonyms of Tottering

controlled, firm, settled, stable, steady

Word Forms of Tottering

Derived words: totteringly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Tottering

First known use: 1534

Frequently Asked Questions about Tottering

What does "Tottering" mean?

"Tottering" means being in an unstable condition. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: being in an unstable condition. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Tottering"?

Other words for "Tottering" include aquiver, atremble, quaking, quavery, quivering, shaking, shaky and shuddering. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Tottering" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Tottering"?

There are 62 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Tottering". Common alternatives include aquiver, atremble, quaking, quavery, quivering, shaking, shaky, shuddering, shuddery and tottery.

How do you use "Tottering" in a sentence?

Examples of "Tottering" in a sentence: "after the accident, she was only able to take a few tottering steps at a time"; "tottered around the house as she practiced walking in high heels"; "the figurine tottered precariously for a moment before falling off the shelf".

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

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

How do you pronounce "Tottering"?

"Tottering" is pronounced /ˈtä-tə-riŋ/ and divided into syllables as tot·ter·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Tottering"?

First known use: 1534.

What is another word for "Tottering" meaning "marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements"?

When "Tottering" (adjective) means marked by or given to small uncontrollable bodily movements, synonyms include aquiver, atremble, quaking, quavery, quivering and shaking.