to dodder

Examples

• All

• My girls are good, but some are elderly and doddering.

  Blog text (10)

• Those who think the earl a doddering old fool would suddenly begin to take him seriously.

  Fiction book (1991)

• I think doddering around the Capitol as a senator is a form of retirement.

  Blog text (18)

• Then along comes this doddering, wealthy widow, somebody about 22 and eager to buy the next round.

  Edge of Eternity (1959)

• But I'll tell you, Rob, I don't know what I'll do if she leaves me over there with all those doddering old fools.

  Fiction book (1991)

• The one president they're proud of in the last half-century, the only one they even acknowledge, was the doddering old former B-actor.

  Blog text (29)

• Uncle Francis's doddering parish priest seemed to encourage this sort of inducement to piety.

  Fiction book (1993)

• Whenever some doddering senior citizen in a sundress or polyester pants finally moved up to a mansion in the sky, the machinery sprang into motion.

  Academic text (2008)

• After the long walk, he began to dodder across the finish line, his legs shaky from exhaustion.

• The elderly woman seemed to dodder down the street, her unsteady steps revealing her frailty.

Synonyms

L

to limp

vsto dodder

73 2.6

To walk with difficulty because one leg or foot is hurt

is shakier and slower specifically from age related frailty

H

to hobble

vsto dodder

22 5.6

To walk with difficulty because of pain or injury

is unsteady mainly because of old age or general weakness not injury

T

to totter

vsto dodder

11 4.8

To walk in an unsteady way as if about to fall

is more about slow shaky movement linked to age rather than falling

W

to walk with a limp

vsto dodder

6 3.7

Move with short uneven steps because one leg or foot hurts

is unsteady chiefly from age or overall weakness rather than a leg injury

S

to shamble

vsto dodder

4 7.9

To walk awkwardly while dragging your feet

is slower and shakier mainly because of age or weakness

F

to falter

vsto dodder

4 6.1

To walk unsteadily, almost stumbling because of weakness

is closer to slow shaky movement from age rather than brief stumbles

T

tottering

vsto dodder

6.0

Unsteady and moving because of weakness or old age

is the general term for slow shaky movement from age or weakness

D

to daddle

vsto dodder

• Archaic

9.9

To walk with small, unsteady steps

is similar but emphasizes slowness and frailty from old age

C

to coggle

vsto dodder

9.9

To walk in a wobbly way as if about to fall

is steadier described as slow and shaky from age rather than unsure wobble

Antonyms

R

to run

∞ 1.0

To move a boat fast in the same direction as the wind

S

to stride

16 2.7

To walk with long confident steps toward a place

How Unsteady

stagger

5 5.0

to totter

11 4.8

to dodder

4 8.4

shuffle

11 3.9

to walk

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology