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

Words Nearby wavering

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

How to use wavering in a sentence

  • 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.

  • Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised.

  • 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.