faltered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "faltered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a moment of hesitation, uncertainty, or a decline in strength or confidence. Example: "As she approached the podium to speak, her voice faltered, revealing her nervousness."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But like Canberra itself – stunted in infancy by decades of bureaucratic meddling, political indifference and the economic impact of the second world war – the George V monument faltered along, taking almost two decades to finish.

The Guardian

Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, was a driver behind comprehensive immigration reform that faltered in Congress but has since retreated from that position.

The Guardian

At 4-4, the Swiss was in trouble again but again he came up trumps, saving two more break points and when they reached the tie-break, it was Tsonga who faltered, with Wawrinka taking it 7-4 to move ahead once more.

The Guardian - Sport

Smith's side were different because their concentration never faltered and the methodical tone was sustained to such an extent that little incident was permitted.

The Guardian - Sport

The closure of Sellafield remains a priority for this government.'Meanwhile Seamus Mallon, the SDLP deputy leader, accused Peter Mandel son yesterday of being absent without leave while the peace process faltered.

The Guardian

Dortmund faltered physically, lost a key player – Mats Hummels, strained ligaments, out for three weeks – to injury and then gifted Bayern two goals via a couple of beastly individual mistakes.

The Guardian - Sport

The Wire has not faltered for a moment in four vaguely themed seasons that have tackled the pointlessness of the war on drugs, the bureaucracy and corruption that infest both the police force and drug-dealing gangs, class war against the labour unions, and the city's dysfunctional public schools system.

The Guardian

As efforts to develop new classes of drugs have faltered, drug-firm bosses have squeezed their businesses to wring extra profits from existing products.

The Economist

Monetary policy contributed to this asymmetry of risk: when markets faltered central banks usually rescued them by cutting interest rates.The second charge is that the bankers and fund managers were not doing anything useful.

The Economist

Reality TV has faltered in the American ratings recently, with viewing down for "The Benefactor", "The Bachelor" and even "The Apprentice".

The Economist

And if Jean-Paul Rappeneau's "Le hussard sur le toit" (1995) faltered, his 1990 "Cyrano de Bergerac" not only enchanted France but made a fortune for its British distributors.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "faltered" to describe a temporary loss of strength, confidence, or momentum in a process or entity. This term is effective when emphasizing a pause or slight decline rather than a complete failure.

Common error

Ensure "faltered" is used to indicate a temporary setback, not a permanent collapse. If something has completely failed, use terms like "collapsed" or "failed" instead.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "faltered" is as a verb, specifically the past tense of the verb "falter". It typically describes an action of hesitating, stumbling, or losing strength. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "faltered" is a verb used to describe a temporary decline, hesitation, or stumbling. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and very commonly used, particularly in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. When writing, use "faltered" to indicate a pause or slight decline rather than a complete failure, and consider alternatives like "stumbled" or "wavered" for nuanced meaning. The term typically appears in neutral contexts and is sourced from authoritative sources such as The Economist and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stumbled

Implies a physical or metaphorical trip or error, similar to a brief loss of balance or progress.

wavered

Suggests indecision or a fluctuation between different options, mirroring a temporary instability.

hesitated

Indicates a pause or reluctance, highlighting a moment of uncertainty before proceeding.

stalled

Emphasizes a sudden stop or interruption in progress, often implying a temporary halt.

flagged

Suggests a decline in energy or enthusiasm, indicating a weakening of momentum.

declined

Highlights a decrease in quality, quantity, or strength, showing a downward trend.

weakened

Focuses on a reduction in power or force, emphasizing a loss of resilience.

petered out

Indicates a gradual fading away or diminishing, suggesting a slow loss of effectiveness.

lost momentum

Signifies a reduction in driving force or speed, implying a slowdown in progress.

came to a standstill

Highlights a complete cessation of movement or progress, indicating a full stop.

FAQs

How can I use "faltered" in a sentence?

You can use "faltered" to describe a temporary loss of momentum or strength. For example, "The project "faltered" due to lack of funding".

What can I say instead of "faltered"?

You can use alternatives like "stumbled", "wavered", or "hesitated" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "the economy faltered" or "the economy failed"?

Both are correct, but they convey different meanings. "The economy "faltered"" suggests a temporary setback, while "the economy failed" implies a complete collapse.

What's the difference between "faltered" and "stumbled"?

"Faltered" often refers to a loss of momentum or confidence, while "stumbled" can indicate a physical misstep or a minor error in progress.