1
as in to lurch
to move forward while swaying from side to side
I was so tired last night that I just staggered upstairs to bed without eating dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to falter
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
a daunting problem that would make even the most decisive person stagger just a bit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 stagger
Monckton said the rollout seems to be staggered, and not all users have access to this capability yet.
—
Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Sheriff’s officials said a man was stabbed multiple times, and the wounded man staggered into a nearby church.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 28 June 2025
According to The Guardian, more disturbing videos emerged, from Ford allegedly staggering around a room and ranting about killing someone to him calling the city police chief a derogatory name and attempting a Jamaican accent.
—Jordana Comiter, People.com, 22 June 2025
Elena Guseva’s soprano staggers in its power and control, retaining its hue even at lofty peaks.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for stagger
Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Sheriff’s officials said a man was stabbed multiple times, and the wounded man staggered into a nearby church.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 28 June 2025
According to The Guardian, more disturbing videos emerged, from Ford allegedly staggering around a room and ranting about killing someone to him calling the city police chief a derogatory name and attempting a Jamaican accent.
—Jordana Comiter, People.com, 22 June 2025
Elena Guseva’s soprano staggers in its power and control, retaining its hue even at lofty peaks.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for stagger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stagger
Verb
-
But that’s not enough opposition to stop CPS from lurching substantially further toward insolvency if Harden and interim school Superintendent Macquline King choose that route.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
25 July 2025
-
Like Germany after the defeat of Hitler, Argentina lurched back and forth between judging its past crimes and trying to move beyond them.—
Julia M. Klein,
The Atlantic,
11 July 2025
Verb
-
Skills Even with the best tools, untrained teams falter.—
Saby Waraich,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
Most of the recent job growth was in health care, social assistance, leisure and hospitality, a red flag that overall job growth may falter in the coming months.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
11 July 2025
Verb
-
As Joe Biden tottered and fell (literally as well as metaphorically), more than a few pundits compared him to Lear, a man who was ruined by age, pride, and the flattery of sycophants.—
Tyler Austin Harper,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2025
-
Dina Tomczak, the school’s athletic director, tottered into her office having barely slept.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Verb
-
Many third-party managers hesitate to adopt centralized models, citing concerns about disruption or owner pushback.—
Tyler Christiansen,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
-
Social media users didn't hesitate to share their thoughts on the eBay sale.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
17 July 2025
Verb
-
Gran Sasso National Park has trails that weave through medieval villages, crumbling castles, and valleys where wild horses still roam.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
23 July 2025
-
The new agreement aims to lift these trials out of the margins and weave them more fully into the fabric of government.—
Ron Schmelzer,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
Symptoms include shivering, memory loss, stumbling, confusion and sleepiness.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
23 July 2025
-
But the Mets’ rotation stumbled in the second half of June and into the All-Star break.—
Grant Brisbee,
New York Times,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
After all, Scott rolled a 150-foot joint with different strains of legal hemp in 2021 to celebrate the unofficial pot smokers holiday of April 20 and to advocate for marijuana legalization.—
Andy Humbles,
The Tennessean,
15 July 2025
-
And then, in 2005, a certain Impala rolled into his life and everything changed.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
All week, campers were shuffled from one activity to the next, mixing games, prayers and church services with lectures that coincide with lessons from the Bible.—
Paul Bersebach,
Oc Register,
12 July 2025
-
Guevara, 47, has been shuffled through three detention sites despite Immigration Judge James Ward’s decision to grant him bond on July 1, according to The Associated Press.—
Ashleigh Fields,
The Hill,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stagger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stagger. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share