as in hesitates
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 vacillates
Pearl, Dale’s adult daughter, vacillates between disbelieving that her father committed suicide and blaming her mother for it.
—
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
The opening Allegro vacillates between punchy jabs and fluttery gaiety.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
The opening Allegro vacillates between punchy jabs and fluttery gaiety.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vacillates
Verb
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If a planner hesitates or hedges on this question, consider that a red flag.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
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When pressed on what a new economic system for the age of AGI might look like, Hunter-Torricke hesitates.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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If Oviedo falters over the next month, the Red Sox may be forced to flip him with either Tolle or Early.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
2 Mar. 2026
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Alice never falters in her suspicions.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vacillates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vacillates. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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