WAVER Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'waver' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of waver are falter , hesitate , and vacillate . While all these words mean "to show irresolution or uncertainty," waver implies hesitation after seeming to decide and so connotes weakness or a retreat. // wavered in his support of the rebels

Q: Where would 'falter' be a reasonable alternative to 'waver'?

While the synonyms falter and waver are close in meaning, falter implies a wavering or stumbling and often connotes nervousness, lack of courage, or outright fear. // never once faltered during her testimony

Q: When could 'hesitate' be used to replace 'waver'?

The words hesitate and waver are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hesitate implies a pause before deciding or acting or choosing. // hesitated before answering the question

Q: When would 'vacillate' be a good substitute for 'waver'?

The synonyms vacillate and waver are sometimes interchangeable, but vacillate implies prolonged hesitation from inability to reach a firm decision. // vacillated until events were out of control

waver 1 of 2

verb

ˈwā-vər

Definition of waver

as in to hesitate

to show uncertainty about the right course of action he's still wavering about whether to take the job

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to falter

to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side the steel tower wavered for a moment before falling over

Synonyms & Similar Words

waver

2 of 2

noun

as in sway

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb waver differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of waver are falter, hesitate, and vacillate. While all these words mean "to show irresolution or uncertainty," waver implies hesitation after seeming to decide and so connotes weakness or a retreat.

wavered in his support of the rebels

Where would falter be a reasonable alternative to waver?

While the synonyms falter and waver are close in meaning, falter implies a wavering or stumbling and often connotes nervousness, lack of courage, or outright fear.

never once faltered during her testimony

When could hesitate be used to replace waver?

The words hesitate and waver are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hesitate implies a pause before deciding or acting or choosing.

hesitated before answering the question

When would vacillate be a good substitute for waver?

The synonyms vacillate and waver are sometimes interchangeable, but vacillate implies prolonged hesitation from inability to reach a firm decision.

vacillated until events were out of control

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 waver

Verb

His belief, however, never wavered throughout those eight appearances without a goal. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 26 June 2026 Amateur cartographers released homemade maps of potential upzoned areas, while some cities wavered over whether their stops would be included or not. — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Noun

From that moment, Roosevelt's admiration for America's Civil War president never wanes or wavers. — Douglas Brinkley, USA Today, 24 May 2026 Yet the funding, energy, and capabilities of the democratic alliance have declined as the institutions of the liberal order lose their potency and the conviction of remaining members wavers. — Nic Cheeseman, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for waver

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waver

Verb

When King asked if the unnamed celebrity was the one, Brown didn't hesitate.

— Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 1 July 2026
The girls don’t hesitate to lay into him either with Trinity, Melanie, and Aniya all coming to Kenzie’s impassioned defense.

— Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 29 June 2026

Definition of hesitate

Verb

And once performance falters, customers are likely to lose faith in your brand.

— Brian Coyne, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Russell Henley also made a 4-under push on Sunday to finish 10-under, while Cam Young faltered in the final pairing with a 1-over round to finish 10-under as well.

— Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of falter

Noun

In a real world sense of course that can’t possibly be true, but the world view of the Puritan religious leaders who founded the Connecticut River Colony in the 1630s still held sway in the late 18th century.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026
Roberta Smith, the co-chief art critic of the New York Times, and Jerry Saltz, the art critic of New York magazine, are writers of sway, elegance, legend.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 June 2026

Definition of sway

Noun

And each time another first-time climber reaches the top, the applause rising from the rocks below suggests that, little by little, that community is growing.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 July 2026
That roundup includes the Billboard Hot 100, as well as lists that are focused on pop, rock, alternative and dance music.

— Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026

Definition of rock

Verb

The iconic bunny costume moment, when Elle is tricked into showing up to a non-costume party wearing a Playboy bunny get-up, was the catalyst for exploring how Elle was able to shake that humiliation off.

— Scarlett Harris, IndieWire, 6 July 2026
This tournament has built credibility by showcasing teams competing at a high level, then shaking hands afterward.

— Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026

Definition of shake

Noun

The first wave of Social Security payments for July is scheduled to be distributed this week.

— Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 6 July 2026
SoCal’s housing market growth SpaceX’s record-shattering IPO has unleashed a wave of high-end home shoppers poised to reshape Southern California’s already tight coastal housing markets.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026

Definition of wave

Verb

Instead of rising together whenever markets wobble, Treasurys, gold and the yen are increasingly responding to their own macro fundamentals.

— Lim Hui Jie,Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 July 2026
The plate currently featured front and center, SpaceX, has been wobbling after an underwhelming IPO.

— Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 2 July 2026

Definition of wobble

Browse Nearby Words

wavelets

waver

wavered

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

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Synonyms of waver

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