Vacillate

/ˈvæ.sə.leɪt/ · verb

Meaning

(intransitive) To sway unsteadily from one side to the other; oscillate..

Definitions by Sense

1. (intransitive) To sway unsteadily from one side to the other; oscillate.
2. (intransitive) To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another.

Example Sentences

Its [the barometer's] normal register in the Paumotus [the Tuamotus] was 29.90, and it was quite customary to see it vacillate between 29.85 and 30.00, or even 30.05; […]

Courageous, patriotic, yet vacillating, many of the noblest principles and the purest intentions, men of large possessions and ancient names, under the afflicting circumstances of the times, failed to render service to their unhappy country, but involved themselves in irremediable ruin.

Though it is vital to be alert for circumstances which require a change of plan, it is fatal to vacillate.

On the streets of Berlin, Ruth and her compatriots vacillated "between hope and despair."

Oliveira couldn’t seem to decide if the point of his videos was to make a point about welfare — he vacillates between claiming Orthodox Jews are engaged in fraud and acknowledging they legitimately qualify for programs like Medicaid and food stamps that he doesn’t think taxes should pay for, at least when it comes to large Jewish families — or to hold up the Jewish communities in Kiryas Joel and Lakewood as models for white Americans.

Synonyms for vacillate

Antonyms for vacillate

Related Words

Word Forms

• vacillates
• vacillating
• vacillated

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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