vacillate

verb

vac·​il·​late ˈva-sə-ˌlāt 

vacillated; vacillating

intransitive verb

1

: to waver in mind, will, or feeling : hesitate in choice of opinions or courses

2

a

: to sway through lack of equilibrium

b

: fluctuate, oscillate

vacillatingly

ˈva-sə-ˌlā-tiŋ-lē 

adverb

vacillator

ˈva-sə-ˌlā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• balance
• dither
• falter
• halt
• hang back
• hesitate
• scruple
• shilly-shally
• stagger
• teeter
• waver
• wobble
• wabble

Choose the Right Synonym for vacillate

hesitate, waver, vacillate, falter mean to show irresolution or uncertainty.

hesitate implies a pause before deciding or acting or choosing.

hesitated before answering the question

waver implies hesitation after seeming to decide and so connotes weakness or a retreat.

wavered in his support of the rebels

vacillate implies prolonged hesitation from inability to reach a firm decision.

vacillated until events were out of control

falter implies a wavering or stumbling and often connotes nervousness, lack of courage, or outright fear.

never once faltered during her testimony

Examples of vacillate in a Sentence

She has vacillated on this issue.

vacillated for so long that someone else stepped in and made the decision

Recent Examples on the Web

Since then, his public speech has vacillated between energetic clarity and outright confusion. —Ezekiel J. Emanuel, The Atlantic, 5 July 2024

Over the next quarter century, Gould and Taylor — until his death in 2011 — experienced a series of heart-stopping legal wins and losses, all based on the state’s vacillating star witness. —Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 1 Feb. 2024

During his 14 years in power, Nimeiri vacillated between socialism and pan-Arabism before settling on Islamism as the best ideology to ensure his hold on power. —Zachariah Mampilly, Foreign Affairs, 2 May 2019

Last year, the home vacillated between a rental and a sale multiple times, each time at increasingly higher prices. —Degen Pener, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin vacillātus, past participle of vacillāre "to be unsteady, totter, be weak or inconstant, waver," of uncertain origin

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Kids Definition

vacillate

verb

vac·​il·​late ˈvas-ə-ˌlāt 

vacillated; vacillating

: to hesitate between courses or opinions : be unable to choose

vacillation

ˌvas-ə-ˈlā-shən

noun

vacillator

ˈvas-ə-ˌlāt-ər 

noun