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vacillateto 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/

Korean meaning: 우유부단하다, (의견이나 행동에서) 망설이다, 흔들리다

Korean pronunciation: 배-실-레이트 (강세: 배)

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

vacillate concept
💡 Concept

Wavering between two choices indecisively

vacillate mnemonic english
🧠 Mnemonic

Vac ill, ate nothing — can't decide what to clean!

vacillate rhyme
🎵 Rhyme

Vacillate, oscillate — too busy to calculate.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈvæsəˌleɪt/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈvæsɪleɪt/

🌳Etymology

Rootvacill
Suffix--ate

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.

🎵Rhyme

calculatemanipulatestimulate
calculate
manipulate
stimulate

🔗Collocations

vacillate between
vacillate wildly
vacillate constantly
tend to vacillate
vacillate in decision

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

The politician vacillated so much that voters nicknamed him 'Mr. Maybe'.

Don't vacillate too long - the sale ends at midnight!

😄 Fun example

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

hesitatewaverfluctuateoscillatedither

Antonyms

decideresolvecommit

Related

indecisiveuncertaintyambivalentinconsistent

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