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.

That balance, she argues, is where many returning shows falter.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

But Michigan fans knew all too well how a thrown-together superteam could falter at the finish line.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

See also: Software stocks bounce as Nvidia shares falter.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 26, 2026

If breadth begins to falter here, the broader market may not be far behind.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

How strange that an article on wood pigeons could so recall the past and make me falter as I read aloud.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier