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
The vacillation has fueled criticism from those who say Trump lacks a clear goal.
—
Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 11 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
Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 11 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
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That hesitation to ride in an AV, however, is highly dependent on the specific situation, the study found.—
Ed Garsten,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
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The Chicago Board of Education renewed the contracts with six charter school operators Wednesday, despite recent hesitations from some board members about approving long-term agreements after a slew of financial troubles in the sector.—
Kate Perez,
Chicago Tribune,
10 June 2026
Noun
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Another common problem for leaders is dealing with the pressure to innovate or the hesitancy to invest from the board.—
Francesca Cassidy,
Fortune,
8 June 2026
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His hesitancy could undermine one of DeSantis’ key arguments to sway voters, particularly those in small counties, in favor of the amendment.—
Romy Ellenbogen Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 June 2026
Noun
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Others, like Choi, believe that knowledge gaps are to blame for donor hesitance to get involved.—
Angelica Ang,
Fortune,
25 May 2026
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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
Noun
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Anthropic, one of OpenAI’s top competitors, has proposed mechanisms for coordinating pauses on advanced AI development if systems become too powerful.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
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Located in the city's dynamic tech district, Whitefield, The Den Bengaluru seamlessly bridges heritage and innovation, offering an environment where guests can move seamlessly between focused work, casual connection, and moments of pause.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vacillation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vacillation. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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