tottering

adjective

tot·​ter·​ing ˈtä-tə-riŋ 

1

a

: being in an unstable condition

a tottering building

b

: walking unsteadily

2

: lacking firmness or stability : insecure

a tottering regime

totteringly adverb

Synonyms

• aquiver
• atremble
• quaking
• quavery
• quivering
• shaking
• shaky
• shuddering
• shuddery
• tottery
• trembling
• trembly
• tremulous
• wobbling
• wabbling
• wobbly
• wabbly

Examples of tottering in a Sentence

after the accident, she was only able to take a few tottering steps at a time

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1a