STAGGER

v. 1 totter, reel, lurch, teeter, sway, walk unsteadily or shakily, pitch, rock, wobble When he staggered in, they thought he was drunk till they saw the knife in his back I was already staggering under the burden of a heavy mortgage and three children and two elderly parents to care for. 2 surprise, amaze, astound, astonish, overwhelm, overcome, dumbfound or dumfound, shock, stupefy, stun, nonplus, floor, confound, bewilder, startle, jolt, shake (up), take one's breath away, make one's head swim, take (someone) aback, throw (someone) off balance, tax, burden, Colloq flabbergast, flummox, bowl over, Slang blow (someone's) mind The cost of cleaning up the oil spill will be staggering He was staggered by her announcement. 3 alternate, space (out), vary, rearrange, zigzag, US change off Working hours will be staggered during the holiday period We could strengthen the structure by staggering the positions of the columns.