What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
totter
Example
The old man tottered down the street with his cane. [tottered: verb]
Example
The company's finances were tottering on the brink of bankruptcy. [tottering: present participle]
wobble
Example
The table wobbled because one of its legs was shorter. [wobbled: past tense]
Example
She wobbled between two choices before finally making a decision. [wobbled: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Wobble is more commonly used than totter in everyday language. Wobble is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while totter is less common and has a more specific meaning.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between totter and wobble?
Both totter and wobble are informal words and are not typically used in formal contexts.