Meaning & use
unwavering
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparableapproving
Staying firm and steady, without weakening or changing, even when there is pressure or doubt.
Grammar: Often used for qualities like loyalty or support: unwavering faith.
Patterns
- unwavering in something
- unwavering support for someone
She showed unwavering loyalty to her friends.
The coach's unwavering belief in the team inspired them.
His unwavering focus helped him finish the marathon.
adjectivebefore a nounliterary
Not moving or shaking; fixed and steady in position.
Grammar: Used for things you look at or hold: an unwavering gaze.
Patterns
- an unwavering gaze
She held an unwavering gaze on the stranger.
The pilot kept the plane on an unwavering course.
He held the torch in an unwavering hand.
Common combinations
- unwavering support
- Her family gave her unwavering support.
- unwavering commitment
- The nurse showed unwavering commitment to her patients.
- unwavering faith
- He kept his unwavering faith in better days.
- unwavering loyalty
- The dog showed unwavering loyalty to its owner.
- unwavering gaze
- Her unwavering gaze made him nervous.
Synonyms and how they differ
- steadfast
- Steadfast stresses loyalty and firmness over time, and sounds a little more formal.
- resolute
- Resolute focuses on firm determination to do something.
- unshakable
- Unshakable suggests something so firm that nothing can move it, often a belief.
- stubborn
- Stubborn is usually critical and suggests refusing to listen, whereas unwavering is usually admiring.
Opposites
Word family
- waver verb
- to become unsteady or hesitate
- wavering adjective
- unsteady or undecided
- waverer noun
- a person who cannot make up their mind
- unwaveringly adverb
- in a firm, steady way
Commonly confused: unwavering or waiver?
unwavering vs waiver
A waiver is a document or act giving up a right; it is spelled with -ai- and has nothing to do with wavering, which has no i.
Practice
Which spelling is correct for a word meaning firm and steady?
Choose one answer.
The word comes from waver, with no i, so unwavering is correct. Unwaivering confuses it with waiver.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “unwavering”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.