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wobble

wobble

12 2.8
An unsteady rocking movement from side to side
  • noun
  • /ˈwɑːbəl/
translation icon : oscilación
  • The keyboard base is very sturdy and there is no wobble when touched.

And if this spins, it puts a heck of a wobble into this thing, OK?

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Examples

  • The expensive case has some wobble to it on the table, by the way.

  • "I spoke rapidly, nervous excitement creating a slight wobble in my voice.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • There has been some wobble in my perfect sleep record, but it's really minor.

  • This is a pretty big wobble.

  • The wobble is more pronounced when the planet is far away from the star.

    Academic text (1996)
  • No, you've got a bit of a wobble.

  • "There came just the least wobble to Ela's voice, true distress.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The precession of the equinoxes occurs because of the wobble of the spinning Earth.

    Academic text (2000)
  • The birds use whistles, wobbles and rattles, the way we use words.

  • The child's toy had a noticeable wobble when it was placed on the uneven surface.

Synonyms

roll
vswobble
761 2.3

A smooth side-to-side movement of the body when walking

is about unsteady rocking rather than smooth rotary movement
swing
vswobble
109 1.0

A repeated movement back and forth like a clock

is often irregular and less rhythmic than that regular motion
vibration
vswobble
73 3.2

A quick movement back and forth that makes something shake

is a visible rocking motion rather than high frequency vibrations
wiggle
vswobble
37 1.0

A small, quick movement from side to side or up and down

involves larger or slower unsteady rocking, not only quick shifts
jiggle
vswobble
7 3.9

A small quick shaking movement that makes things wobble

is the broader unsteady rocking action rather than slight irregular shakes
waggle
vswobble
3 4.9

A small repeated movement from side to side or up and down

focuses on unsteady rocking rather than deliberate repeated motion
shimmy
vswobble
  • Specialized
1 8.4

A wobbling movement in the front wheels or steering of a vehicle

is general unsteady movement not tied to vehicle or abnormal cases
rocking
vswobble
1 1.1

A gentle movement back and forth or side to side

is not necessarily gentle and can be irregular or unstable
unsteadiness
vswobble
1 5.1

A lack of balance or firm control that causes shaking

describes the actual back and forth movement rather than the unstable state
wobbliness
vswobble
6.0

A state of being unsteady and shaky so things or sounds seem to move

is the actual back and forth movement rather than the general quality
wabble
vswobble
9.1

A short unsteady movement from side to side

refers to unsteady movement more generally, not only brief moments
wobblette
vswobble
  • Informal
9.9

A small playful movement from side to side

is broader and not limited to playful or light motion
wiggliness
vswobble
6.5

A way something moves with small quick side-to-side or back-and-forth motions

is a single unsteady rocking movement rather than the general quality
jittering
vswobble
6.0

Small quick movements of a person or thing often from being nervous

is slower and more noticeable as a rocking motion than rapid tremors
to shaking
vswobble
1.0

To move quickly back and forth or up and down, making things tremble

is about unsteady rocking movement rather than fast vibrating motion

Idioms

Tell someone to think again because they are not being reasonable

How Wobbly

tumble
46 2.9
lurch
7 4.7
wobble
12 2.8
to sway
77 2.4

Surface Forms

wobble singular
wobbles plural

Etymology

Wobble comes from an old sound people used to copy a shaky movement, like 'wob' or the familiar word bob in 'bob up and down', so the word itself feels unsteady. A wobble is an 'unsteady' or 'rocking' movement.