falteringly

F4A1L1T1E1R1I1N1G2L1Y4

adverb

In a faltering manner; hesitantly, making pauses

Similar
unsteadilyuncertainly
OriginProto-Germanic *līką ← Proto-Indo-European *leyg- ← English faltering →
Scrabble 18
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Meanings

adverbfalteringly (comparative more falteringly, superlative most falteringly)

comparative more falteringly · superlative most falteringly · alternative archaic faulteringly

  1. In a faltering manner; hesitantly, making pauses

    She spoke falteringly, and concluded with a heavy sigh.

    1826, [Mary Shelley], chapter IV, in The Last Man. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbin an unsteady manner

Similar
unsteadilyuncertainly
Also see
uncertainlyunsteadily

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Englishfalter
  2. Englishfaltering
  3. Proto-Indo-European*leyg-
  4. Proto-Germanic*līką
  5. Englishfalteringly

From faltering + -ly.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

falteringly. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/falteringly

MLA

“falteringly.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/falteringly. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “falteringly,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/falteringly.

Source: falteringly on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.