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

The Monitor's View As Americans’ trust in elections wavers, local officials and volunteers are strengthening safeguards – and making sure more voters know about it. — The Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 25 Sep. 2026 If the laser beam wavers even slightly, defects ruin the crystalline structure. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 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 When those practitioners are taken away from patients, our pluck and determination waver. — Mindy Uhrlaub, STAT, 16 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for waver

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waver

Verb

Much of the film plays out in close-up as Alex watches, plays, thinks, hesitates.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
But the clearest lesson from Iowa is that states that engage early and set smart terms come out ahead, while those that hesitate watch the investment head elsewhere.

— Jeff Danielson, Chicago Tribune, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of hesitate

Verb

Current Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has faced intense scrutiny as the state’s insurance market has faltered and has pushed through a series of changes in recent years to try and stabilize it.

— Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Lucy’s constant sense of invention sometimes falters under the album’s new, megawatt spotlight, lacking the enticing mystery that gives their best music its power.

— H.D. Angel, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of falter

Noun

The story plays out in New York’s cutthroat acting scene, where a talented Indian actor chasing his craft falls under the sway of Keitel’s teacher.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
As Béatrice’s amateur detective work pulls her in deeper, the strands begin to suggest a conspiracy, one marked by mysterious disappearances and the clandestine sway of the Vatican.

— Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of sway

Verb

But now, the occupation seems to tremble before Palestinian children holding paper and string.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
Those afflicted would tremble and jerk around, lose the ability to stand or swallow, and, after many months of slow suffering, die.

— David Remnick, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of tremble

Noun

The Mexican ska rock band Panteón Rococó joined the list of Latin acts performing on NPR’s iconic Tiny Desk on Thursday to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

— Natalia Cano, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026
Jones said the team believes its drilling results raise questions about some previous explanations of the site as a natural rock formation.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of rock

Verb

The event, televised by dozens of channels across Serbia, capped a week of Vucic touring towns and villages in an apparent bid to shore up his popularity that's been shaken after almost two years of sustained anti-government protests.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Bottle tops popped, can tabs cracked, and cocktail shakers shook all day Thursday at the Aftershock music festival at Sacramento’s Discovery Park.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of shake

Noun

The hypnotizing corduroy stripes of curling blue waves visible from the resort’s expansive green clifftop lawn en route to a private staircase that leads straight to the surf—and a guest-only beach deck, too.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
Seeing the president flash on the scoreboard, or wave to the crowd from a private box, probably won’t win him votes from the crowd, either, Mowery said.

— Will Weissert, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of wave

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 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of waver

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