vacillate

verb

vac·​il·​late ˈva-sə-ˌlāt How to pronounce vacillate (audio)
vacillated; vacillating

intransitive verb

1
: to waver in mind, will, or feeling : hesitate in choice of opinions or courses
2
a
: to sway through lack of equilibrium
vacillatingly adverb
vacillator noun
Choose the Right Synonym for vacillate

hesitate, waver, vacillate, falter mean to show irresolution or uncertainty.

hesitate implies a pause before deciding or acting or choosing.

hesitated before answering the question

waver implies hesitation after seeming to decide and so connotes weakness or a retreat.

wavered in his support of the rebels

vacillate implies prolonged hesitation from inability to reach a firm decision.

vacillated until events were out of control

falter implies a wavering or stumbling and often connotes nervousness, lack of courage, or outright fear.

never once faltered during her testimony

Examples of vacillate in a Sentence

She has vacillated on this issue. vacillated for so long that someone else stepped in and made the decision
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin vacillātus, past participle of vacillāre "to be unsteady, totter, be weak or inconstant, waver," of uncertain origin

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of vacillate was in 1597

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vacillate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vacillate. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

vacillate

verb
vac·​il·​late ˈvas-ə-ˌlāt How to pronounce vacillate (audio)
vacillated; vacillating
: to hesitate between courses or opinions : be unable to choose
vacillation
ˌvas-ə-ˈlā-shən
noun
vacillator noun

More from Merriam-Webster on vacillate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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