wavering

[ wey-ver-ing ]
See synonyms for wavering on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. fluttering, swaying to and fro, tottering, or reeling: To make things more bearable, he imagined she was close by—just beyond that wavering curtain.The two stumbling cousins came to a wavering halt, leaning on each other.

  2. flickering or quivering, as light: In the wavering light of the torch, the old warrior's face showed fond concern.

  1. becoming unsteady; beginning to fail or give way: It wasn’t just the physical pain I suffered, it was the loss of self, the wavering sense of identity.

  2. shaking or trembling, as the hands or voice: "Our thoughts are with our colleague’s family, friends, and loved ones," said the anchorman with a wavering voice.

  3. feeling or showing doubt, indecision, etc.; vacillating: The disciplined mind is strong and effective, while the constantly wavering mind is weak and ineffective.

  4. fluctuating or varying: The participants braved the wavering March weather for an engaging and action-packed day.

noun
  1. the act or condition of becoming unsteady, vacillating, faltering, or fluctuating: Any wavering of attention is very likely to result in an error.

  2. the act or condition of flickering, swaying, tottering, or fluttering: There was a wavering in the cracked screen.

  1. the act or condition of shaking or trembling, as the hands or voice: Her fear began to manifest itself in a minute trembling of her hand and a slight wavering of her voice.

Origin of wavering

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; waver1 + -ing2 for the adjective senses; waver1 + -ing1 for the noun senses

Other words from wavering

  • wa·ver·ing·ly, adverb
  • non·wa·ver·ing, adjective
  • un·wa·ver·ing, adjective
  • un·wa·ver·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use wavering in a sentence

  • He held the sabre lower, but the point was kept unwaveringly at the chest of his enemy; his teeth were set.

  • He had listened intently, without interruption, sitting up on the cot, his look fixed unwaveringly on the narrator.

    Flamsted quarries | Mary E. Waller
  • But the ill-fated Queen, nursed from childhood in the faith, was not more unwaveringly firm than was this six-days' neophyte.

    Hubert's Wife | Minnie Mary Lee
  • Madam Giron had finally decided to follow the advice of Dr. Kirby, which was, and had been unwaveringly from the beginning, to go.

    East Angels | Constance Fenimore Woolson
  • Both of them, in their letters, complained bitterly of the obstructive policy which the Tories still unwaveringly carried out.

    I, Thou, and the Other One | Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr