staggering 1 of 3

adjective

ˈsta-g(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce staggering (audio)
Definition of staggeringnext
as in astonishing
causing wonder or astonishment the staggering scope of the new construction on campus

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

staggering

2 of 3

noun

as in wobbling

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Dissimilar Words

staggering

3 of 3

verb

present participle of stagger
1
as in lurching
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
2
as in faltering
to show uncertainty about the right course of action a daunting problem that would make even the most decisive person stagger just a bit

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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 staggering
Adjective
Eighteenth-century Americans drank a staggering amount of alcohol compared to us today, so there are two important essentials for your party, both involving booze. — Brooke Barbier, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026 During the construction of the Panama Canal, their steam shovels helped remove staggering quantities of earth, cutting a path between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. — Malika Bowling, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Verb
The bill, which passed with bipartisan support, addressed concerns about giving one party too much power by staggering the new authorizations out over a 0-year period. — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026 The Powell-Herro partnership also was never able to consistently produce positive results, as the Heat was left staggering their minutes by the end of the season. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for staggering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staggering
  1. astonishing
  2. wobbling
  3. lurching
  4. faltering
  5. amazing
  6. indecision
  7. reeling
  8. hesitating
Adjective
  • Their defensive commitment was astonishing, compact and aggressive in a 5-4-1 shape throughout, limiting the overwhelming tournament favourites to pot-shots for over an hour.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Laptop Deal The HP OmniBook 3 redefines long-haul productivity by delivering an astonishing 32 hours and 15 minutes of operating on a single charge.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 3 July 2026
Definition of astonishing
Noun
  • During testing, the creator found that the stock connection caused excessive wobbling while driving, leading to the development of a custom dual-rod mechanism designed to stabilize head movement.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 22 May 2026
  • Losers often exit the octagon wobbling, smiling, fogged, concussed.
    — David Remnick, New Yorker, 22 May 2026
Definition of wobbling
Verb
  • The same boom-and-bust dependency on the oil industry, whose profits were now funnelled through the regime and its allies, kept the country lurching from one crisis to the next.
    — Armando Ledezma, New Yorker, 30 June 2026
  • The old guard of the Democratic Party suffered another body blow when three socialist congressional candidates in New York with anti-Israel platforms swept to victory, lurching the party even further to the left.
    — Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 25 June 2026
Definition of lurching
Verb
  • Chris Jung | Nurphoto | Getty Images Shares of Nvidia have been faltering recently — and Kalshi traders predict that what the company can charge for chips is also declining.
    — Ananya Chetia, CNBC, 22 June 2026
  • After faltering in last year’s Div.
    — Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 30 May 2026
Definition of faltering
Adjective
  • The eighth-floor outdoor pool has amazing views, and the hotel sits in walking distance of shops and restaurants.
    — Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • The director, 68, and the action star, 78, worked together on 1996's Eraser, with both wanting to deliver an amazing action movie.
    — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
Definition of amazing
Noun
  • Andy Burnham, Britain’s soon-to-be prime minister, wants an array of bold new policies to attract voters who have grown tired of a Labour government mired in indecision and political backbiting.
    — Philip Aldrick, Fortune, 28 June 2026
  • At first, the Jell-O was also a way to express vulnerability, indecision and hesitation.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 26 June 2026
Definition of indecision
Verb
  • Democrats are reeling from upsets in Colorado’s primary Tuesday night as an anti-establishment wave buried a pair of party veterans.
    — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 1 July 2026
  • Much of the credit for the team’s resurgence has gone to coach Mauricio Pochettino, who inherited a program reeling from its disappointing first-round exit at the 2024 Copa América.
    — Luisa Yanez July 1, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026
Definition of reeling
Verb
  • The book does often feel like a recording of a mental jam session, but there is also a sense of being guided by a kind of hesitating yet urgent voice that needs to get things figured out.
    — Craig Morgan Teicher, Literary Hub, 1 June 2026
  • While their rivals started spending significant sums of money as soon as the 2024-25 season finished, Spurs wasted a couple of weeks hesitating about the long-term future of then head coach Ange Postecoglou before replacing him with Thomas Frank.
    — David Ornstein, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Definition of hesitating

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Cite this Entry

“Staggering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staggering. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on staggering

Nglish: Translation of staggering for Spanish Speakers

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