What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
faltered
Example
She faltered as she walked across the tightrope. [faltered: verb]
Example
He faltered in his speech when he saw the audience staring at him. [faltered: past tense]
Example
The company's profits faltered after the economic downturn. [faltered: verb]
waver
Example
The flame wavered in the wind. [wavered: verb]
Example
She wavered between two options before making a decision. [wavered: past tense]
Example
The stock market has been wavering for the past few weeks. [wavering: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Waver is more commonly used than faltered in everyday language. Waver is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while faltered is less common and often used in more specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between faltered and waver?
Both faltered and waver are relatively formal words and may not be used as frequently in casual conversation. However, waver may be slightly more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
