Falter

To falter is to hesitate or waver in action, purpose, or intent; to stumble or lose effectiveness. It implies a loss of momentum, confidence, or strength, often temporarily. This can manifest physically, such as stumbling, or mentally, such as hesitating in a decision. Faltering can also denote a decline in performance, a weakening of resolve, or an unsteadiness in achieving a goal. It suggests an imperfect execution, a momentary lapse, or a situation where progress is impeded or threatened. The degree of faltering can vary from a slight hesitation to a complete collapse.

Falter meaning with examples

• The hiker began to falter on the steep incline, his legs burning and his breath ragged. He paused to catch his breath, debating whether to continue. The unforgiving terrain, combined with his lack of prior conditioning, had begun to take its toll, threatening his intended summit. The decision to turn back was a real threat as exhaustion began to set in as he was forced to falter.
• Her voice began to falter as she delivered the eulogy, overcome with emotion. The memories flooded her mind, and the sadness threatened to overwhelm her as she began to stumble on her words. Each sentence she spoke was an agonizing reminder of the time she had lost in her moment of grief, leaving her vulnerable to falter.
• The economy started to falter due to the unexpected rise in inflation and increase of interest rates. Businesses faced reduced consumer spending, investments stalled, and the market started to struggle in its performance. The experts predicted this could lead to a recession if steps were not taken to prevent this from continuing to falter.
• The aging athlete began to falter in the final lap, his stamina finally giving way. He had pushed his body to its limit throughout the race, and the wear and tear took its toll. His lead diminished and he eventually dropped behind his closest competition; he had no choice but to falter.
• The negotiations began to falter after several disagreements on key points. The parties involved grew more and more frustrated as the issues continued to arise. The compromise was nearly impossible to reach, leaving the final agreement threatened to falter.