vacillate — to waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈvæsəˌleɪt/
Example Sentences
- The politician vacillated so much that voters nicknamed him 'Mr. Maybe'.
- Don't vacillate too long - the sale ends at midnight!
- My cat vacillates between wanting to go outside and being scared of the door.
vacillate
VERB[/ˈvæsəˌleɪt/]
to waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive
Wavering between two choices indecisively
He vacillated between the two doors without opening either one. (to go back and forth between choices)
Vacillate, oscillate — too busy to calculate.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'vacillare' meaning to sway or waver, derived from the root 'vacil-' which relates to swinging or oscillating motion. The word entered English in the 16th century and retained its metaphorical meaning of being unable to make a firm decision.
Breakdown
vacill- (to sway, waver) + -ate (verb suffix) = vacillate (to waver in opinion or action)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The politician vacillated so much that voters nicknamed him 'Mr. Maybe'.”
“Don't vacillate too long - the sale ends at midnight!”
“My cat vacillates between wanting to go outside and being scared of the door.”
“Students often vacillate when choosing their college major.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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