faltering
/'fɔ:ltəriɳ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Unsteady or wavering in movement, action, or speech: Characterized by a lack of steadiness, confidence, or strength; hesitant.
- Showing weakness or a loss of determination: Indicating a decline in strength, effectiveness, or resolve.
Noun:
- The act of moving, speaking, or proceeding hesitantly or unsteadily: An instance of pausing uncertainly or showing a lack of confidence.
Usage and Examples
Adjective:
- She spoke in a faltering voice, overcome with emotion.
- The economy's faltering growth concerned the investors.
- His faltering steps suggested he was very tired.
Noun:
- After a moment's faltering, he continued with his speech.
- The project proceeded without faltering.
Advanced Usage
"faltering steps": steps that are unsteady or uncertain, often due to weakness, age, or injury.
- The old man took faltering steps across the room.
"without faltering": proceeding steadily and with confidence, without any hesitation or weakening.
- She answered the difficult questions without faltering.
Variants and Related Words
Falter (verb): To move, speak, or act hesitantly or unsteadily; to lose strength or momentum.
- His courage began to falter.
- The runner faltered just before the finish line.
Falteringly (adverb): In a hesitant or unsteady manner.
- He spoke falteringly about the traumatic event.
Synonyms
- Adjective: Hesitant, unsteady, wavering, shaky, stumbling, uncertain, weak.
- Noun: Hesitation, wavering, stumbling, uncertainty.
Antonyms
- Adjective: Steady, confident, firm, resolute, unwavering.
- Noun: Confidence, steadiness, certainty.
Related Phrases and Idioms
A faltering voice: A voice that shakes or hesitates, typically due to strong emotion or nervousness.
- He announced the sad news in a faltering voice.
A faltering economy: An economy that is losing strength or growing very weakly.
- The government introduced measures to revive the faltering economy.
Adjective
- unsteady in speech or action
Noun
- the act of pausing uncertainly
- there was a hesitation in his speech