wobble

/ˈwɑbəl/

/ˈwɒbəl/

Other forms: wobbling; wobbled; wobbles

When things wobble, they teeter or rock unsteadily back and forth. A brand new bike rider is bound to wobble a little bit when she's pedaling down the street.

A cafe table might wobble annoyingly until you prop up one leg with folded paper. And, when you first step off an amusement park ride, your legs might wobble for a while. Your voice can wobble too, or tremble, especially when you're upset or nervous. People wobble figuratively too: "When politicians wobble on important issues, it's hard to trust them."

Definitions of wobble

1. verb

   move sideways or in an unsteady way
   synonyms: careen, shift, tilt

   type of:

   move

   move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion
2. verb

   move unsteadily
   “His knees wobbled”

   “The old cart wobbled down the street”

   synonyms: coggle

   type of:

   move

   move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion
3. verb

   tremble or shake
   “His voice wobbled with restrained emotion”

   synonyms: shimmy

   type of:

   vibrate

   shake, quiver, or throb; move back and forth rapidly, usually in an uncontrolled manner
4. noun

   an unsteady rocking motion
   types:

   shimmy

   an abnormal wobble in a motor vehicle (especially in the front wheels)

   type of:

   motion, movement

   a natural event that involves a change in the position or location of something