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
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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
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Recent Examples of stagger
The airline will stagger the start dates for each of the new routes, with Providence starting on May 22, the Richmond flight on June 7, and the Montreal flight on June 12.
—
Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2025
Times are staggered to avoid overcrowding — and as of Thursday afternoon, only 8pm and 8:30pm start times are available.
—Audrey Kennedy, Axios, 6 Feb. 2025
The travelers staggered off the train and trudged up to the highway.
—Robert Klara, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Jan. 2025
This election will also see the village comply with changes to its electoral code by instituting term limits, staggered terms for trustees, non-partisan elections and a change in structure of how trustees are elected, including some elected from districts and some elected at large.
—Richard Requena, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stagger
Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2025
Times are staggered to avoid overcrowding — and as of Thursday afternoon, only 8pm and 8:30pm start times are available.
—Audrey Kennedy, Axios, 6 Feb. 2025
The travelers staggered off the train and trudged up to the highway.
—Robert Klara, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Jan. 2025
This election will also see the village comply with changes to its electoral code by instituting term limits, staggered terms for trustees, non-partisan elections and a change in structure of how trustees are elected, including some elected from districts and some elected at large.
—Richard Requena, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stagger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stagger
Verb
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For the 80 people on board the flight from Minneapolis, the world lurched immediately after the wheels hit the ground.—
Vjosa Isai,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2025
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Fritz revved the engine, a desperate, needling whine, and the vessel lurched down the airstrip, the chute billowing awake behind him.—
Nick Paumgarten,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
Verb
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If Maeda were to falter this spring, a role stashed away in the bullpen could be possible.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
The Athletic,
22 Feb. 2025
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Senate leaders chose to plow ahead with their budget plan even after Mr. Trump endorsed the House’s one-big-bill approach on Wednesday, characterizing their measure as a fail-safe should the House falter.—
Catie Edmondson,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Following the screening, guests caught Miu Miu cabs—or tottered the 10 minutes by foot—to Langan’s Brasserie.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
14 Feb. 2025
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Then there's the small, sweet moments—video of my goddaughter tottering in her first pair of shoes; my cat caught mid-yawn; a selfie of me and my dad on a date to the symphony.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
18 Dec. 2024
Verb
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If someone pops up out of the blue, don’t hesitate to connect with them.—
Lisa Stardust,
Vogue,
26 Feb. 2025
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These jets were responsible for Nasrallah's demise, and Israel will not hesitate to strike other Hezbollah leaders as necessary.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
Newsweek,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Her latest feature, The Ice Tower (La Tour de glace), is no exception, weaving a twisted retro fairytale that sits somewhere between Frozen and Mulholland Drive.—
Jordan Mintzer,
The Hollywood Reporter,
16 Feb. 2025
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Watch the video | Rare 1,600-year-old purple fabric — woven with gold threads — found in France.—
Stories by Real-Time news team, with AI summarization,
Miami Herald,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Liv hesitates, does awkward stumble toward her, drops head onto Sally’s shoulder.—
George Saunders,
The Atlantic,
14 Feb. 2025
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But after entering the All-Star break holding a Wild Card, Boston stumbled almost immediately in the second half.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Three years after Russian troops first rolled into the country and started mass destruction, members of the Ukrainian fashion and design community are stalwart as ever about carrying on with their businesses to convey strength and resistance.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
WWD,
24 Feb. 2025
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Listen to this article GLENDALE and MESA, Ariz. — The Chicago Cubs are rolling.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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For all of the conversation late last year analyzing how quickly Sporting KC might be able to shuffle the chairs — or even Vermes praising the way his team played Wednesday — a swap at striker, a swap in the mentality at striker, transcends everything else.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
20 Feb. 2025
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The plan involved shuffling around existing crew assignments to free up two of the four seats on a SpaceX capsule that launched in late September, so that Wilmore and Williams could occupy the seats on the return trip.—
Denise Chow,
NBC News,
20 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stagger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stagger. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.
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