waverer

Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms.

wa·ver

(wā′vər)

intr.v. wa·vered, wa·ver·ing, wa·vers

a. To move unsteadily back and forth: The flowers wavered in the breeze. See Synonyms at swing.

b. To move in a certain direction with a swaying or unsteady motion: The child wavered along the hall. Snowflakes wavered down.

a. To exhibit irresolution or indecision; vacillate: They wavered over buying a house.

b. To become unsteady or unsure; falter: His resolve began to waver.

c. To become diverted: She never wavered from her position opposing the war.

3. To change or fluctuate: The weather wavered between sunny and overcast.

a. To tremble or quaver in sound, as of the voice or a musical note.

b. To flicker or glimmer: The door opened, and the light from the candle wavered.

The action of wavering: the waver of the flashlight in the distance.

[Middle English waveren; see webh- in Indo-European roots.]

wa′ver·er n.

wa′ver·ing·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun

waverer - one who hesitates (usually out of fear)

hesitater, hesitator, vacillator

coward - a person who shows fear or timidity

Translations

chi è vacillante irresoluto

waverer

[ˈweɪvərəʳ] N → indeciso/a m/f, irresoluto/a m/f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

waverer

n → Zauderer m, → Zauderin f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

Huck, being un- committed as yet, joined in with Tom, and the waverer quickly "explained," and was glad to get out of the scrape with as little taint of chicken-hearted home- sickness clinging to his garments as he could.

View in context

This decided the waverers, and the waverers decided the majority.

View in context

These words from a man as popular as Aylward decided many of the waverers, and a shout of approval burst from his audience.

View in context

Brooke: his impression that waverers were likely to be allured by wavering statements, and also the liability of his mind to stick afresh at opposing arguments as they turned up in his memory, gave Will Ladislaw much trouble.

View in context

A similar situation is evoked through the merger of the waverer, in "The Waverer's Tale," with the world of rudimentary matter.

Italo Calvino's attack on anthropocentrism in The Castle of Crossed Destinies

Thomas, and David Cannadine retrieve three minor political figures from obscurity: pamphleteer Israel Mauduit (an influential critic of Pitt the Elder's wartime strategy), Robert Morris (secretary of the Wilkite Bill of Rights Society), and George, 3rd Lord Calthorpe (an innovative landlord and waverer during debate of the 1832 Reform Bill).

Hanoverian Britain and Empire: Essays in Memory of Philip Lawson

There was no tornado of letters, faxes, phone calls and personal visits to intimidate a foe or stiffen the spine of a waverer. Get some grass-roots energy, Reid advised.

The end of an environmental era

The likes of Diego Cavalieri, Javier Mascherano, Alvaro Arbeloa and Ryan Babel can optimistically expect to start and while they are all good pros, that could persuade the waverer to reckon Everton are overpriced at 11-2 with Skybet.

MOYES CAN RELY ON HIS STICKY TOFFEES; Blues ready for another derby battle LIVERPOOL v EVERTON FA CUP FOURTH ROUND SETANTA SPORTS 1 4pm

The Democrats have A1 From, the doughy but prescient founder of the "New" Democrats; Richard Gephardt, the earnest and left-learning climber; and at the helm, Bill the Waverer. The book's analysis of each of these player's places in the Washington firmament is first rate.

Storming the Gates: Protest Politics and the Republican Revival

And while giving up smoking and cutting down on the booze might be sensible in their own right, working out the long-term financial results of making a resolution and sticking to it could strengthen the resolve of many a waverer.

personal Finance: Give up smoking, cut the drinking and pay off your mortgage early

And waverer fans might be persuaded to turn up following the news that the reviled Hamilton was standing down.

Hamilton confusion at crisis-torn Racecourse

Not only will the presence of Mr Bhutto Zardari firm up voters, but his ability to draw crowds will dissuade any waverers from deserting.