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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Example Sentences
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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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What drives the hesitation is rarely bad code.
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At the center of KeyBanc’s hesitation is Starship, the giant reusable rocket that Musk, the CEO, has described as critical to the future of satellite deployment, deep-space exploration and, eventually, colonization of Mars.
Noun
-
Part of it is a hesitancy to trade veterans on expiring contracts (prior to this season’s trades with Buffalo) to get picks back.
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Another common problem for leaders is dealing with the pressure to innovate or the hesitancy to invest from the board.
Noun
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That hesitance in the Republican Party coexists with palpable relief that there’s a ceasefire agreement in the Middle East after months of strikes on Iran.
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Others, like Choi, believe that knowledge gaps are to blame for donor hesitance to get involved.
Noun
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That pause is the whole story for anyone who holds an insurance policy, because some of the rules in the firing line decide how the algorithms that price your cover are allowed to behave.
-
If someone urges you to splurge, smile, breathe, and pause.
Cite this Entry
“Vacillation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vacillation. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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