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.
It just captures this vacillation of the human experience so perfectly for me — like, I’m dancing, I’m driving in the dark.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 13, 2024
But Kim said his self-defence force "can not be bartered nor be bought with anything" and will be held firm without the slightest vacillation despite harsh trials and difficulties.
From Reuters • Mar. 27, 2022
“There’s this vacillation between the individual and the group,” George added.
From New York Times • Aug. 23, 2021
Oh's controlled vacillation between effervescent wit and warmth and frantic frustration in each episode make Ji-Yoon a solid navigator through this morass.
From Salon • Aug. 20, 2021
We note in them vacillation of purpose, and the power of adjusting means to ends only in its rudimentary form.
From The Moral Instruction of Children by Adler, Felix
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.
