vac·il·late (v s  -l t )intr.v. vac·il·lat·ed, vac·il·lat·ing, vac·il·lates 1. To sway from one side to the other; oscillate. 2. To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another. See Synonyms at hesitate. [Latin vacill re, vacillt-, to waver.]vac il·lating·ly adv.vac il·lation n.vac il·lator n. |
vacillate [ˈvæsɪˌleɪt]
vb (intr)
1. to fluctuate in one's opinions; be indecisive
2. to sway from side to side physically; totter or waver
[from Latin vacillāre to sway, of obscure origin]
vacillation n
vacillator n
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Verb | 1. |  vacillate - be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action; "He oscillates between accepting the new position and retirement"hesitate, waffle, waver - pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness; "Authorities hesitate to quote exact figures" shillyshally - be uncertain and vague |
| 2. |  vacillate - move or sway in a rising and falling or wavelike pattern; "the line on the monitor vacillated"swing - alternate dramatically between high and low values; "his mood swings"; "the market is swinging up and down" fluctuate - cause to fluctuate or move in a wavelike pattern |
vacillate
verb waver, hesitate, dither (chiefly Brit.), haver, sway, falter, be doubtful, fluctuate, be uncertain, be unsure, teeter, oscillate, be undecided, chop and change, seesaw, blow hot and cold (informal), temporize, hum and haw, be unable to decide, keep changing your mind, shillyshally (informal), be irresolute or indecisive, swither (Scot.), be unable to make up your mind (chiefly Brit.), dillydally She is vacillating over whether or not to marry him.
Translations
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