Meaning & use

falter

verb·Academic

To become weak, hesitant, or unsteady, especially while speaking, moving, or continuing an effort.

See it in a sentence

His voice faltered as he tried to explain why he had missed the funeral.

Support for the project faltered once the true cost became clear to investors.

A note on using this word

Falter suggests a loss of confidence or strength partway through an action, unlike fail, which implies the effort has ended in failure.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “falter”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.