faltered
Wavered under pressure
Faltered is the past tense of falter, meaning to lose strength, momentum, or resolve.
Someone who faltered hesitated or wavered: Her voice faltered as she delivered the news.
A plan or effort that faltered stumbled or began to fail: The economy faltered in the third quarter.
The word suggests a weakening rather than a complete collapse.
Showed unsteady resolve
- hesitatedPaused from uncertainty
- pausedStopped temporarily
- vacillatedChanged mind repeatedly
- ditheredWas unable to decide
stalled · balked · demurred · hung back · held back · second-guessed · lost nerve · chickened out
Lost balance while walking
- staggeredShocked or unevenly spaced
- lurchedMoved with sudden unsteadiness
- wobbledMoved with instability
- teeteredMoved unsteadily, nearly falling
swayed · tottered · lost footing · tripped · unsteady · shambled · reeled · weaved
Did not succeed
- collapsedFell inward suddenly
- crumbledBroke into particles
- broke downFailed mechanically or emotionally
- gave wayFailed to hold
fell apart · buckled · foundered · floundered · stalled out · sputtered out · crashed · derailed
Spoke with involuntary repetitions
- stutteredSpoke with involuntary repetitions
- stumbledLost balance while walking
- mumbledSpoke indistinctly
- sputteredSpoke in fragments
trailed off · broke off · choked · garbled · lost train of thought · tongue-tied · halting · incoherent
Marked for attention
- wanedDecreased gradually
- weakenedMade less capable
- fadedLost original color
- wiltedLimp from dehydration
sagged · drooped · ebbed · declined · deteriorated · slipped · slackened · lagged
Showed unsteady resolve
- weakenedMade less capable
- crumbledBroke into particles
- brokeLacking any funds
- cavedSurrendered after resistance
yielded · relented · softened · capitulated · lost heart · gave in · backed down · retreated
wavered
Showed unsteady resolve
- hesitatedPaused from uncertainty
- pausedStopped temporarily
- vacillatedChanged mind repeatedly
dithered · stalled · balked · demurred · hung back · held back · second-guessed · lost nerve · chickened out · shrank back
stumbled
Lost balance while walking
- staggeredShocked or unevenly spaced
- lurchedMoved with sudden unsteadiness
- wobbledMoved with instability
teetered · swayed · tottered · lost footing · tripped · unsteady · shambled · reeled · weaved · buckled
failed
Did not succeed
- collapsedFell inward suddenly
- crumbledBroke into particles
- broke downFailed mechanically or emotionally
gave way · fell apart · buckled · foundered · floundered · stalled out · sputtered out · crashed · derailed · unraveled
stammered
Spoke with involuntary repetitions
- stutteredSpoke with involuntary repetitions
- stumbledLost balance while walking
- mumbledSpoke indistinctly
sputtered · trailed off · broke off · choked · garbled · lost train of thought · tongue-tied · halting · incoherent · inarticulate
flagged
Marked for attention
wilted · sagged · drooped · ebbed · declined · deteriorated · slipped · slackened · lagged · petered out
wavered
Showed unsteady resolve
caved · yielded · relented · softened · capitulated · lost heart · gave in · backed down · retreated · surrendered
- diminisheddevalued, lessened, decreased, depreciated, reduced
- surrenderedsurrendered, capitulated, yielded, conceded, submitted
falteredpersevered
Continued despite difficulty
persisted · continued · endured · carried on · pressed on
falteredsteadied
Made firm or stable
strengthened · flourished · thrived · surged · excelled
falter, faltering, unfaltering, falters, falteringly, falterer, falterers, unfalteringly