falter

[fawl-ter] / ˈfɔl tər /

VERB

stumble, stutter

Synonyms

STRONGEST

flounder hesitate reel waver wobble

STRONG

bobble break fluctuate fluff halt lurch quaver rock roll scruple shake stagger stammer teeter topple totter tremble vacillate

WEAK

be undecided drop the ball hem and haw speak haltingly stub toe trip up whiffle

Antonyms

STRONG

calm hold remain stabilize stay steady

WEAK

continue endure maintain persist

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Still, the economy can only sustain so many blows before it begins to falter.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026

That can help the company grow even as EV sales falter in the new year.

From Barron's • Mar. 3, 2026

Conversely, U.K. banks falter amid pressure on the country’s sovereign bonds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

“People have their moments when they falter, but he never gave up.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 4, 2026

Sadna cried out but didn’t falter, dodged out from under Blue Eyes’s follow-up cut.

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi