vacillate

verb

vac·​il·​late ˈva-sə-ˌlāt How to pronounce vacillate (audio)
vacillated; vacillating

intransitive verb

1
: to waver in mind, will, or feeling : hesitate in choice of opinions or courses
2
a
: to sway through lack of equilibrium
vacillatingly adverb
vacillator noun
Choose the Right Synonym for vacillate

hesitate, waver, vacillate, falter mean to show irresolution or uncertainty.

hesitate implies a pause before deciding or acting or choosing.

hesitated before answering the question

waver implies hesitation after seeming to decide and so connotes weakness or a retreat.

wavered in his support of the rebels

vacillate implies prolonged hesitation from inability to reach a firm decision.

vacillated until events were out of control

falter implies a wavering or stumbling and often connotes nervousness, lack of courage, or outright fear.

never once faltered during her testimony

Examples of vacillate in a Sentence

She has vacillated on this issue. vacillated for so long that someone else stepped in and made the decision
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
By this measurement, Milton would have remained a Category 5 until mid-Wednesday rather than vacillating between 4 and 5. Alec Luhn, WIRED, 9 Oct. 2024 Their subterranean seaside stone bunker is awesome, as is the film’s score, which vacillates between free jazz, drone, and psych guitar. Katie Rife, Vulture, 21 June 2024 With tension around the upcoming presidential election thick in the air, most of us are vacillating somewhere between slightly uneasy and borderline insane. Alyssa Shelasky, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2024 The Indian National Congress, the BJP’s primary adversary and traditionally the more socially progressive party at the national level, is one of several key players to have vacillated over the issue. Deepa Das Acevedo, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2019 See all Example Sentences for vacillate 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin vacillātus, past participle of vacillāre "to be unsteady, totter, be weak or inconstant, waver," of uncertain origin

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of vacillate was in 1597

Dictionary Entries Near vacillate

Cite this Entry

“Vacillate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vacillate. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

vacillate

verb
vac·​il·​late ˈvas-ə-ˌlāt How to pronounce vacillate (audio)
vacillated; vacillating
: to hesitate between courses or opinions : be unable to choose
vacillation
ˌvas-ə-ˈlā-shən
noun
vacillator noun

More from Merriam-Webster on vacillate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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