STAGGERED Synonyms: 107 Similar and Opposite Words

staggered 1 of 2

adjective

as in overwhelmed

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Dissimilar Words

staggered

2 of 2

verb

past tense of stagger

as in lurched

to move forward while swaying from side to side I was so tired last night that I just staggered upstairs to bed without eating dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in hesitated

to show uncertainty about the right course of action a daunting problem that would make even the most decisive person stagger just a bit

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of staggered

Adjective

Still, suppliers said the staggered schedule alone doesn’t account for the weaker demand. — Fernanda Tronco, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026 Two years later, Haitians were supposed to return to the polls to elect another tier of the staggered chamber along with lawmakers in the 119-member Lower Chamber of Deputies. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026 Other nations, which do not, are elected by the General Assembly rotate in and out every two years on a staggered basis. — Mogomotsi Magome, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026 Wilson wears pendant necklaces at staggered lengths against a plunging red halter neckline, with a sheer red veil pulled across her face in several shots. — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026 The offensive line got going in staggered fashion and a first-and-goal from the 1 turned into a field goal. — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2026 The $18 million Illinois Department of Natural Resources project will close trails and features in a staggered fashion, in order to minimize impact on visitors. — Taryn Shorr-McKee, Midwest Living, 20 Sep. 2026 Citi kept its Buy and called the Duo Apple's biggest new hardware category since the Apple Watch and AirPods, and Goldman was constructive on the view that the staggered launch and the $100 Pro increases should support average selling price growth. — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026 Tickets are $50 for Mission Hills Heritage members, $60 for nonmembers, with staggered entry times; some time slots have sold out, so early purchase is advised. — The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Sep. 2026

Verb

Adebayo and Antetokounmpo shared the court for most their playing time in the Heat’s preseason opener, but Heat coach Erik Spoelstra staggered their minutes in the Heat’s second exhibition in Thursday’s preseason win over the New Orleans Pelicans. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026 The talent is still there, but Herbert has staggered to a dismal start. — Sam Jane, Denver Post, 9 Oct. 2026 Because board seats are staggered, district voters will select two candidates for two-year terms. — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 The offshore footprint will be staggered with a limited bow in Mexico, UK and Australia and other territories like France, Netherlands, Korea and Japan going later. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026 At the heart of the resort is an 82-foot jade-green pool with rooms and eating areas staggered across the snug plot. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 This year’s committee consists of 65 members who will serve staggered three-year terms. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026 But only weeks into his first season, as the Jets staggered to a 3-14 record, the team traded two of its best defensive players in cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2026 The Phillies staggered into the eighth at Dodger Stadium trailing 5-3. — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for staggered

Adjective

At the same time, 39% feel overwhelmed by online drama and 31% feel excluded by friends.

— Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Oct. 2026
But for thousands of families, the final obstacle was an overwhelmed visitor center.

— Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of overwhelmed

Verb

While its lawyers have not hesitated to send cease-and-desist letters to AI companies, Disney is among the big media companies looking for ways to get in the AI game and profit from its boom.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Teammates excitedly jumped off the bench, then hesitated when Thiero’s right knee appeared to buckle awkwardly under him.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of hesitated

Adjective

What appears before the bewildered trio is a boy with a face resembling a frog’s, named Fūsuke.

— Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
But Iñárritu’s caricatures become people in a way Kubrick’s don’t; as the bewildered President, for example, John Goodman is simultaneously grounded and theatrical in his presentation, recalling his best work with the Coen brothers.

— Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of bewildered

Verb

On top of all of that, the AI trade faltered this week amid growing concerns that some companies are issuing too much debt to build out their AI networks.

— Fred Imbert, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
This week a deal for Volta Infrastructure faltered as investors feeling full-up on data center debt demanded higher yields.

— Ellen DiMauro, semafor.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of faltered

Adjective

It was released as the third of the three-pack of new albums Drake dropped to stunned audiences this May.

— Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2026
As Bijan Robinson raced down the sideline and the rest of his Falcons teammates sprinted in pursuit, a mixture of an eerie hush and a stunned buzz fell over Caesars Superdome from a crowd still not entirely settled in its seats.

— Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of stunned

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stagger

staggered

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Style

“Staggered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staggered. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of staggered

adjective

verb

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