wavering

[ wey-ver-ing ]

adjective

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

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.
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.
feeling or showing doubt, indecision, etc.; vacillating: The disciplined mind is strong and effective, while the constantly wavering mind is weak and ineffective.
fluctuating or varying: The participants braved the wavering March weather for an engaging and action-packed day.

noun

the act or condition of becoming unsteady, vacillating, faltering, or fluctuating: Any wavering of attention is very likely to result in an error.
the act or condition of flickering, swaying, tottering, or fluttering: There was a wavering in the cracked screen.

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

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

But he should not be judged by his wavering as a presidential candidate.
Mario Cuomo, a Frustrating Hero to Democrats, Is Dead at 82 | Eleanor Clift | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
In the recent film Obvious Child, the protagonist schedules her abortion without wavering for a second.
Wendy Davis and the 'Good Abortion' Myth | Emily Shire | September 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
A wavering, but canny Wehrmacht General Dietrich von Choltitz finally surrendered it on August 25.
Who Liberated Paris in August 1944? | | August 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Yet thanks to recent scandals, that acceptance of the adult industry seems to be wavering.
Too Hot for Google: Why The Internet Giant Is Scared of Porn | Aurora Snow | July 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
At that point, many wavering Republicans seemed to rally around their leaders.
Senate Raises Debt Ceiling After GOP 'Dysfunction' | Ben Jacobs | February 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

At length only four or five flames remained, feebly wavering in their pools of melted wax.
The Boarded-Up House | Augusta Huiell Seaman
We shall probably take the town, and defeat its wavering army; but up to this moment, we have not been joined by a single peasant.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV. | Various
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised.
The Ordinance of Covenanting | John Cunningham
A wavering red line licked its way to the canyon-edge on the east side, wiped out the grass, and died on the bald rim-rock.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. Sinclair
Should they have to engage in a struggle for these, let their efforts be made without hesitation or wavering.
The Ordinance of Covenanting | John Cunningham

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