as in hesitation
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action
the president was soundly criticized for his vacillation before responding to the crisis
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Recent Examples of vacillation
Over time, however, whatever succor Trump provides to the economy by saying that the war is nearly over is likely to be canceled out by his administration’s vacillation.
—
David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2026
President Trump’s vacillation— seeming a lot like appeasement— encourages Putin’s intransigence.
—U.s. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2026
Your corrupt presidency of graft, vengeance and ceaseless vacillation between loudly complaining and loudly boasting has become like a jackhammer outside our collective window every day since your inauguration.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
Continued vacillation by all sides deepens the chasm of distrust among the signatories.
—Bisa Williams, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2020
See All Example Sentences for vacillation
David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2026
President Trump’s vacillation— seeming a lot like appeasement— encourages Putin’s intransigence.
—U.s. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2026
Your corrupt presidency of graft, vengeance and ceaseless vacillation between loudly complaining and loudly boasting has become like a jackhammer outside our collective window every day since your inauguration.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
Continued vacillation by all sides deepens the chasm of distrust among the signatories.
—Bisa Williams, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2020
See All Example Sentences for vacillation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vacillation
Noun
-
There can be apathy and hesitation.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
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For example, during his dominant, 18-point first quarter in the Spurs’ Game 5 win over the Timberwolves, on one play Wembanyama hit a combo of hesitation dribbles into a crossover into a spinning layup over Rudy Gobert.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
14 May 2026
Noun
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The decline in vitamin K uptake is still believed to be related to vaccine and medicine hesitancy, according to both the JAMA study and ProPublica investigation.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
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This hesitancy and worry about speaking up is the way free speech dies.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
Noun
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After a pause for the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, social hesitance was still evident and masks were incorporated into some of the night's designs.—
Luis Giraldo,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
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Sensing hesitance as well as incompetence, coaches and players alike tried to sway the flailing fill-ins at every turn.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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There was a pause in the action in the fourth inning when plate umpire Brian O’Nora exited with concussion-like symptoms after getting hit by a foul ball.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
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Let’s pause here for a moment for an important bit of context.—
Andy Meek,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vacillation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vacillation. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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