VACILLATED Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

vacillated

verb

past tense of vacillate

as in hesitated

to show uncertainty about the right course of action vacillated for so long that someone else stepped in and made the decision

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Recent Examples of vacillated Faced with a tough decision, Chiles vacillated. — Miami Herald, 31 May 2026 His government has previously vacillated between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian positions. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 2 May 2026 Trump, in phone calls with reporters over the past two days, has vacillated between warmongering and offering unclear details about further negotiations. — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026 Barron vacillated between playing deep in situational dime packages, fitting run gaps as a veritable off-ball linebacker in big-nickel packages, covering tight ends man-to-man, and even started a game at safety. — Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026 Their callouts vacillated from descriptions riddled with scientific jargon to exclamations of awe and joy. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2026 Yet Brown, who has vacillated on virtually everything this season, has gone in a different direction. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026 Trump has vacillated between indifference and contempt for the USMCA, at times threatening to pull out of the agreement altogether and work instead to negotiate two separate, bilateral deals with Mexico and Canada. — Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 18 Mar. 2026 Trump has vacillated in his public statements on the deal. — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vacillated

Verb

The French back line hesitated for a brief second, anticipating a potential foul, but Porro pressed the advantage and side-footed a shot past Mike Maignan in the 58th minute for the backbreaking goal.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
Family described him as a kind and humble man who worked hard and never hesitated to help others.

— Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026

Definition of hesitated

Verb

But nearly everything else has faltered, including the president’s signature legislative initiative to overhaul elections by, in part, requiring votes to provide proof of citizenship.

— David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
The Sharks nearly made the playoffs last season, but, for a variety of reasons, faltered down the stretch and finished four points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the Western Conference’s second and final wild card spot.

— Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 16 July 2026

Definition of faltered

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“Vacillated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vacillated. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of vacillated

verb

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