doddering
Trembling with age
Doddering describes someone, usually elderly, who moves unsteadily or seems mentally feeble.
The word suggests trembling, tottering steps and diminished faculties: a doddering old man shuffling down the hall.
It carries condescension—you wouldn't call a respected elder doddering to their face.
Moving unsteadily, nearly falling
- teeteringUnstably balanced, nearly falling
- wobblyTending to teeter
- shakyTrembling or unstable
- falteringBecoming unsteady or weak
unsteady · staggering · shuffling · trembling · quivering · swaying · lurching · stumbling
Flaw in one's nature
- fadingGradual loss of intensity
- waningGradually decreasing in intensity
- deterioratingBecoming progressively worse
- weakeningBecoming less strong
decaying · crumbling · degenerating · declining · ebbing · withering · atrophying · diminishing
Mentally impaired by age
- forgetfulFailing to retain information
- confusedUnable to understand
- befuddledMentally confused, disoriented
- muddledIn a confused state
disoriented · absentminded · addled · dazed · incoherent · vague · rambling · wandering
tottering
Moving unsteadily, nearly falling
faltering · unsteady · staggering · shuffling · trembling · quivering · swaying · lurching · stumbling · hobbling
failing
Flaw in one's nature
- fadingGradual loss of intensity
- waningGradually decreasing in intensity
- deterioratingBecoming progressively worse
weakening · decaying · crumbling · degenerating · declining · ebbing · withering · atrophying · diminishing · sinking
elderly
Advanced in age
geriatric · venerable · aged · hoary · wizened · withered · shriveled · worn · time-worn · grizzled
senile
Mentally impaired by age
- forgetfulFailing to retain information
- confusedUnable to understand
- befuddledMentally confused, disoriented
muddled · disoriented · absentminded · addled · dazed · incoherent · vague · rambling · wandering · dotty
- Unsteady Motionshake, vibrate, vibration, tremor, oscillating
- agingaging process, aging body, biological age, aging workforce, aging parents
- age descriptorsaged, elderly, old, young, youthful
- age slanggeezer, codger, coot, old fart, old timer
- age termsyoung, old, older, younger, youngest
- shaky thingsshaky, quivering, tremulous, shivering, quaking
dodderingyouthful
Seeming not old
young · vital · vibrant · hale and hearty · fresh
dodderingsharp
Fine-edged, or astute
alert · lucid · keen · clearheaded · sharp-witted