vacillate

[ vas-uh-leyt ]

/ ˈvæs əˌleɪt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR vacillate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), vac·il·lat·ed, vac·il·lat·ing.

to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute: His tendency to vacillate makes him a poor leader.

to sway unsteadily; waver; totter; stagger.

to oscillate or fluctuate.

Words nearby vacillate

vaccinization, vaccinology, vachel, vacherin, vacillant, vacillate, vacillating, vacillation, vacillatory, vacterl syndrome, vacua

Origin of vacillate

1590–1600; < Latin vacillātus (past participle of vacillāre to sway to and fro); see -ate¹

SYNONYMS FOR vacillate

1 hesitate. See waver¹.

2 reel.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR vacillate ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM vacillate

vac·il·la·tor, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for vacillate

I kind of self-edit that out of the history, but they did vacillate for quite a while.
David Chase on Tony Soprano’s Fate, the State of TV, and Why He Couldn’t Finish ‘True Detective’|Marlow Stern|September 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It seems like you vacillate between 10 and 20 members at any given time.
Mother Falcon the 18-Piece Indie Symphonic Rock Band Taking Texas By Storm|Abby Haglage|June 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Van der Sloot appears to vacillate between apologetic and aloof in his response, captured on hidden camera.
Natalee Holloway: Is the Bone in Aruba Hers?|Barbie Latza Nadeau|November 19, 2010|DAILY BEAST
This was a severe disappointment to Bessy, and left her an alternative that required more than courage, but she did not vacillate.
The Day of the Beast|Zane Grey

Long did he vacillate whether Tom Keane should not be arrested on suspicion.
Roland Cashel|Charles James Lever
"He is too independent to vacillate on account of ridicule," said Ida.
Alone|Marion Harland
They vacillate, conforming now to the interest of the wage-workers, now to the interest of the employers.
Socialism|John Spargo
It is wiser to be wrong and not hesitate than to vacillate and be right.
H. R.|Edwin Lefevre

British Dictionary definitions for vacillate

vacillate

/ (ˈvæsɪˌleɪt) /

verb (intr)

to fluctuate in one's opinions; be indecisive

to sway from side to side physically; totter or waver

Derived forms of vacillate

vacillation, nounvacillator, noun

Word Origin for vacillate

C16: from Latin vacillāre to sway, of obscure origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

vacillate

verb (used without object), vac·il·lat·ed, vac·il·lat·ing.

Words related to vacillate

Words nearby vacillate

Origin of vacillate

SYNONYMS FOR vacillate

OTHER WORDS FROM vacillate

Examples from the Web for vacillate

British Dictionary definitions for vacillate

verb (intr)

Derived forms of vacillate

Word Origin for vacillate