TEETER Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

teeter

verb

ˈtē-tər

Definition of teeter

as in to falter

to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side he nervously teetered at the edge of the pool before finally diving in

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to stagger

to move forward while swaying from side to side the toddler teetered down the rink in her new ice skates

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to hesitate

to show uncertainty about the right course of action was teetering on the brink of making a decision about college

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 teeter The Giants are tied for the best record in the NFC East with the teetering Philadelphia Eagles (2-1). — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 4 Oct. 2026 The Montgomery hospital had teetered on the edge of closure this summer before the agreement to keep it operating. — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 16 Sep. 2026 Scott’s face, in this shot, is a whole novel, disintegrating into tears before being shored up again, eventually rearranged into something resembling a welcoming smile that teeters on the edge of collapse. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026 This is the man who wants to ensure the survival of human civilization while our own planet teeters toward the abyss? — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for teeter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for teeter

Verb

The Giants hope the more mobile McCarthy can spark a struggling running game that has faltered with Winston at quarterback.

— Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Analysts noted that the brand was bucking trends among Chinese consumers, where most luxury brands have been faltering this quarter.

— Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of falter

Verb

Spoelstra staggered Adebayo and Antetokounmpo’s minutes with these bench lineups.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
However, data from Agence France Tresor shows that the average maturity of French debt stands at roughly 8 years and 158 days, with debt redemptions relatively well staggered.

— , CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of stagger

Verb

With more than seven million people packed into over 9,000 high-rises, efficiency is key here, and people will judge you for holding up lines, hesitating with your Octopus card, or lingering over your dim sum table while others are waiting.

— Lee Cobaj, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026
So as facts and circumstances change, taxpayers should not hesitate to notify the IRS to avoid defaults and payment failures.

— Charles T. Almond III, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of hesitate

Verb

Financial markets slumped on Friday as investors bailed on technology stocks amid concerns that companies exposed to artificial intelligence are starting to wobble.

— Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Some investors are already treating Apple as a hedge against the other AI companies dominating the Nasdaq; if those companies wobble, Apple could be the big stock-market winner.

— Andrew R. Chow, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of wobble

Verb

The insurrection drew immediate and obvious parallels to the United States, which, during much of the past decade, has lurched alongside Brazil through a strange hall of mirrors.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
Hop on the #6 double-decker from Central to Stanley beach, which lurches around Hong Kong Island's mountainous southern South China Sea coast (sit upstairs on the right-hand side).

— Lee Cobaj, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of lurch

Verb

Understandably, Penn struggles to hold these disparate points of focus together with a performance that vacillates between disarmingly dopey and almost willfully ignorant of the realities of the 2000s media landscape.

— Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026
The strength came as oil prices continued to vacillate because of uncertainty about when the war with Iran will allow the global energy industry to return to normal.

— Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of vacillate

Verb

But now, the occupation seems to tremble before Palestinian children holding paper and string.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
Those afflicted would tremble and jerk around, lose the ability to stand or swallow, and, after many months of slow suffering, die.

— David Remnick, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of tremble

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

Browse Nearby Words

tees off

teeter

teetered

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Teeter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teeter. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of teeter

verb

Example Sentences

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