as in to hesitate
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
vacillated for so long that someone else stepped in and made the decision
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Recent Examples of vacillate
The president has vacillated in recent months between deporting all individuals who are in the country illegally and being sympathetic to farmers and hospitality executives who rely on such migrant workers for labor.
—
Brett Samuels, The Hill, 4 July 2025
Christopher Landon is a master at making audiences vacillate between gut-wrenching terror and gut-busting laughter.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025
Since then, tariff rates have vacillated quite a bit as negotiations with trading partners continued.
—Mike Patton, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
As the hours ticked by on Friday, reactions in Israel vacillated between extremes.
—Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for vacillate
Brett Samuels, The Hill, 4 July 2025
Christopher Landon is a master at making audiences vacillate between gut-wrenching terror and gut-busting laughter.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025
Since then, tariff rates have vacillated quite a bit as negotiations with trading partners continued.
—Mike Patton, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
As the hours ticked by on Friday, reactions in Israel vacillated between extremes.
—Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for vacillate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vacillate
Verb
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But in volatile and uncertain times, many leaders hesitate to act, and others simply freeze up.—
Harvard Business Review,
Harvard Business Review,
31 July 2025
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If you’re selected for an interview, don’t hesitate to ask the hiring manager whether a degree is truly required or if relevant experience counts.—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr,
USA Today,
29 July 2025
Verb
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After Democrats took control of the Senate in 2021 with President Joe Biden in the White House, efforts to address the cap again faltered, despite efforts by Pritzker and other Democratic governors who wrote Biden a letter that spring calling for it to be eliminated.—
Dan Petrella,
Chicago Tribune,
28 July 2025
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Trump's ratings on some of the most significant issues facing the country also faltered, according to Gallup pollsters.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
27 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vacillate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vacillate. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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