vacillation
Americannoun
-
an act or instance of vacillating.
-
a state of indecision or irresolution.
-
unsteady movement; fluctuation.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of vacillation
1350–1400; Middle English vacillacion < Latin vacillātiōn- (stem of vacillātiō ) a swaying. See vacillate, -ion
Explanation
Vacillation is when you constantly change your opinion. It also refers to swinging back and forth physically. Both meanings of vacillation involve moving back and forth in some way. The first sense is what happens when a person is wishy-washy. If you want to go to a movie, then say you don’t, then say you do after all, that’s an example of vacillation. Politicians who flip-flop are known for their vacillation because they constantly change their opinions. Also, something that is swinging or swaying in the wind is vacillating, so the movement is a vacillation.
Vocabulary lists containing vacillation
"The Palace Thief" by Ethan Canin
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Spoon River Anthology
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
David Copperfield
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The vacillation in Treasurys following the government’s pledge to suppress longer-duration yields have rattled stock investors, too.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
So the decision to do nothing about the deflation was not a case of ignorance or vacillation, as Mr. Ahamed contends, but of alignment with long-established monetary norms.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026
But it’s D’Angelo’s soaring vocals that transmute the molten instrumental throbbing into a transcendent buzz, achieved through multi-track vocal layers and a vacillation between climactic reverb roars and serene breaks.
From Salon ● Oct. 19, 2025
Lois’ reticence about him mirrors our own vacillation with the DC Universe’s new direction: We need to see something more from this guy before we commit.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2025
The faculty of 'second-sight' must have been well developed in him, for without a moment's vacillation, doubt or delay, he struck into a path which led direct to a certain wooded hill-side.
From Fickle Fortune by Elisabeth Burstenbinder (AKA E. Werner)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
