Meaning & use
falteringly
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Meaning
adverbformal
In a way that shows hesitation or lack of confidence, often with pauses or unsteady movement.
Grammar: Modifies a verb, usually 'speak', 'say', or 'move': 'He spoke falteringly.'
Patterns
- speak falteringly
- say something falteringly
- move falteringly
She spoke falteringly, as if she was not sure of the answer.
He walked falteringly after the accident, holding on to the wall.
The witness answered falteringly, pausing between each word.
Common combinations
- speak falteringly
- The nervous student spoke falteringly during the presentation.
- say something falteringly
- He said her name falteringly, afraid of her reaction.
- move falteringly
- The old man moved falteringly across the icy path.
Synonyms and how they differ
- hesitantly
- Hesitantly means you pause because you are unsure; falteringly adds the idea of a shaky or unsteady quality, often in speech or movement.
- unsteadily
- Unsteadily suggests a lack of physical balance; falteringly can also refer to speech that is not smooth.
Opposites
Word family
Practice
Choose the sentence that uses 'falteringly' correctly.
Choose one answer.
Option 4 correctly describes hesitant speech. Option 1 contradicts the meaning (falteringly implies lack of smoothness), option 2 suggests success and steadiness, and option 3 uses the adverb to modify 'forgot' in a way that is unnatural.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “falteringly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.