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faltering
/ˈfɔːl.tər.ɪŋ/
hesitant or unsteady
Her voice was faltering as she tried to explain the mistake.
She spoke hesitantly, showing uncertainty or nervousness.
neutral
Losing strength, momentum, or confidence; becoming weak or unsteady.
The company's faltering sales worried investors.
Sales were declining, causing concern among investors.
His faltering steps revealed his exhaustion.
He walked unsteadily due to tiredness.
Often describes physical, emotional, or performance-related weakness.
neutral
Speaking or moving hesitantly, often due to nervousness.
The witness gave a faltering account of the incident.
The witness spoke hesitantly, showing uncertainty.
Commonly used in legal, emotional, or public speaking contexts.
Collocations
faltering economyan economy that is weakening or decliningfaltering voicea voice that is trembling or hesitantfaltering confidencea loss of self-assurance
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'falter'
'Faltering' is the adjective form, while 'falter' is the verb. Example: 'His voice faltered' (verb) vs. 'a faltering voice' (adjective).
Gold Rule
Use 'faltering' for gradual decline
Unlike 'collapsing' (sudden failure), 'faltering' suggests a slower, more uncertain decline in strength or confidence.
Word Origin
From Old English 'fealtrian' (to hesitate), related to 'fealt' (weak). The '-ing' suffix forms an adjective describing the state of faltering.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in both literal (physical movement) and figurative (performance, confidence) contexts. Often implies a temporary or developing weakness rather than a permanent state.
Word Breakdown
falter
to hesitate or waver
root-ing
forms an adjective describing the state of the root
suffixEnglish Dictionary