wavering

[ wey-ver-ing ]

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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. feeling or showing doubt, indecision, etc.; vacillating:

   The disciplined mind is strong and effective, while the constantly wavering mind is weak and ineffective.

6. 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.

3. 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.

Other Words From

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of wavering¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; waver ¹( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective senses; waver ¹( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun senses

Example Sentences

But he should not be judged by his wavering as a presidential candidate.

From The Daily Beast

In the recent film Obvious Child, the protagonist schedules her abortion without wavering for a second.

From The Daily Beast

A wavering, but canny Wehrmacht General Dietrich von Choltitz finally surrendered it on August 25.

From The Daily Beast

Yet thanks to recent scandals, that acceptance of the adult industry seems to be wavering.

From The Daily Beast

At that point, many wavering Republicans seemed to rally around their leaders.

From The Daily Beast

At length only four or five flames remained, feebly wavering in their pools of melted wax.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

Should they have to engage in a struggle for these, let their efforts be made without hesitation or wavering.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• undecided