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Glite Dictionary
⏸️ A pause 😔 Unsteady or weak
faltering

faltering

5.6
Showing lack of strength and steadiness, often in voice or movement
  • adjective
  • /ˈfɔltərɪŋ/
translation icon : titubeante
  • During her speech, she had a faltering voice that made the audience feel concern for her.

Examples

  • In this manner, could a unit of Chariots quickly bolster A faltering battle line or exploit a weakness in the enemy ranks.

  • We also have a shorthand that recognizes the other person's strengths or capabilities or maybe where they're faltering that day.

  • I mean, explicit is very close to and faltering because it's coming from the Latin terms of, you know, unfolding as well.

  • So I do think we have a duty to make, to, to, to help other people who are faltering in moments of cowardice or fear or whatever.

  • My weeping A faltering summons rushed with this letter.

  • -(TONY FALTERING)

    West Side Story (2021)

  • (NOTES FALTERING)

    The Apostle (1997)

  • He took a faltering step back, unsure of what to do next when he saw the crowd.

  • The singer's faltering performance showed his struggle with the high notes.

Synonyms

faint
vsfaltering
38 2.7

Feeling weak and about to lose consciousness

means weak or unsteady without nearing unconsciousness
tottering
vsfaltering
6.0

Unsteady and moving because of weakness or old age

is broader, applying to weak or unsteady speech as well as movement

Antonyms

steady
186 1.3

Firm and unlikely to be moved or upset

How Unsteady

unstable
80 4.4
unsteady
16 3.3
faltering
5.6
shaky
59 2.1
wobbly
36 3.6

Surface Forms

faltering positive

Morphology

faltering = falter (transparent) = falter + ing

The adjectival use is the participial form of the verb 'falter' and its meaning (lacking steadiness) is directly derived from the verb.

Etymology

The word faltering brings to mind 'stumbling' or 'almost falling', a helpful picture to remember that a faltering step, voice, or progress is weak, unsteady, or shaky.