stagger crossword clue – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Crosswordanswer.co.uk! If you're tackling a crossword and the clue "stagger" has you stumped, you've come to the right place. We provide a comprehensive list of potential answers, complete with explanations, to help you complete your puzzle with ease.
Solutions for "stagger crossword clue" by Letter Count
4 Letters
REEL: To lose one's balance and sway or tip, often when dizzy or drunk. This fits the meaning of 'stagger' perfectly.
5 Letters
LURCH: To make an abrupt, unsteady, uncontrolled movement or series of movements. A strong synonym for 'stagger'.
6 Letters
TOTTER: To move in a feeble or unsteady way. Often used to describe someone struggling to maintain balance, akin to staggering.
WOBBLE: To move unsteadily from side to side. Implies an unstable, wavering motion, much like a stagger.
FALTER: To lose strength or momentum, or to move unsteadily. This covers both physical unsteadiness and a loss of resolve, both aspects of 'stagger'.
8 Letters
ASTONISH: To surprise or impress greatly. While 'stagger' primarily means to move unsteadily, 'staggering' can also mean incredibly impressive or shocking, hence this related meaning.
More About "stagger crossword clue"
The word "stagger" can be a fascinating clue in crosswords because of its multiple meanings. Primarily, it refers to an unsteady walk or movement, as if about to fall. This is why answers like REEL, LURCH, and TOTTER are very common and often the first ones to come to mind for solvers. These words all evoke a sense of physical imbalance or difficulty in maintaining a stable gait.
However, "stagger" also has a less literal, more impactful meaning: to profoundly shock or deeply impress someone. For instance, "staggering news" or a "staggering achievement" would mean something truly astonishing or overwhelming. Crossword setters often use this dual nature of words to create challenging clues, so always be prepared to consider both the literal and figurative interpretations.
Understanding these nuances is key to cracking more difficult crosswords. When you see "stagger," think about the overall tone of the clue and how many letters are needed. This will help you narrow down whether the answer relates to unsteady motion or a surprising impact.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Consider Multiple Meanings: Many words, like "stagger," have more than one definition. Always think beyond the most common usage, especially if initial answers don't fit the letter count or crossing letters.
- Check Letter Count First: The number of letters in the answer is your biggest hint. Always filter potential solutions by the exact length required.
- Utilize Crossing Letters: Once you have a few letters from intersecting words, use them to confirm or narrow down your choices for the "stagger" clue. Even one letter can make a huge difference.
- Think About Context: Is the clue part of a longer phrase? Does it have any qualifiers (e.g., "stagger, perhaps")? This additional context can guide you to the correct meaning and answer.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "stagger" mean in a crossword context?
In crosswords, "stagger" primarily refers to an unsteady or lurching movement (e.g., REEL, LURCH, TOTTER). However, it can also refer to causing great surprise or shock (e.g., ASTONISH) or arranging things at intervals (e.g., STAGE, although less common as a direct synonym for the verb 'stagger' in this context, the adjective 'staggered' is). Always consider the clue's full wording and surrounding letters.
How can I find synonyms for "stagger" when solving crosswords?
To find synonyms for "stagger", consider its various meanings: to reel, to lurch, to totter, to wobble, to falter (all implying unsteady movement), or to astonish, to shock (implying impact). Use a thesaurus, or brainstorm words based on the context provided by the crossword clue itself, especially the length of the answer and any crossing letters.
Are there other meanings of "stagger" used in crosswords besides unsteady movement?
Yes, absolutely! While 'unsteady movement' is the most common, 'stagger' can also mean to 'astonish' or 'shock' (as in 'staggering news'). Less frequently, it can imply arranging things with overlapping times or positions, like 'staggered start times', though direct single-word synonyms for the verb in this sense are rarer in typical crosswords.