Definition

1. 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.

2. 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

1. unsteady in speech or action

Noun

1. the act of pausing uncertainly
   • there was a hesitation in his speech