as in hesitation
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action
the president was soundly criticized for his vacillation before responding to the crisis
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Recent Examples of vacillation
Contrasting success stories with the vacillations of the current administration will project Trump as a global colossus.
—
Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 14 July 2024
This administration’s vacillation in trying to dictate Israeli military options, including withholding weapons, only prolongs it.
—Chris Eddy, Sun Sentinel, 10 July 2024
Espinosa’s Billy Jay is also a huge asset: His vacillation between cornfed, charming-despite-yourself naïveté and furtive, ambitious, even possibly sinister unknowability is—perhaps a little ironically—the play’s most compelling character arc.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 8 May 2024
Indian vacillation will convince U.S. officials that despite their best efforts, New Delhi is either incapable of mustering the requisite political will to build a long-term security partnership with Washington or reluctant to do so.
—Sumit Ganguly, Foreign Affairs, 20 June 2023
See All Example Sentences for vacillation
Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 14 July 2024
This administration’s vacillation in trying to dictate Israeli military options, including withholding weapons, only prolongs it.
—Chris Eddy, Sun Sentinel, 10 July 2024
Espinosa’s Billy Jay is also a huge asset: His vacillation between cornfed, charming-despite-yourself naïveté and furtive, ambitious, even possibly sinister unknowability is—perhaps a little ironically—the play’s most compelling character arc.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 8 May 2024
Indian vacillation will convince U.S. officials that despite their best efforts, New Delhi is either incapable of mustering the requisite political will to build a long-term security partnership with Washington or reluctant to do so.
—Sumit Ganguly, Foreign Affairs, 20 June 2023
See All Example Sentences for vacillation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vacillation
Noun
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This kind of training helps eliminate hesitation in critical moments.—
Oleg Fonarov,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
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For all his apparent hesitation, though, and his acknowledgment of the problems related to sports betting, Baker is also charged with helping his organization maximize profits.—
Made by History,
TIME,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In contrast, the ACC, long considered one of the premier basketball conferences, has had a down year, partly based on a hesitancy to embrace NIL.—
Greg Rosenstein,
NBC News,
19 Mar. 2025
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Gypsy-Rose Blanchard opened up about her hesitancy to marry Ken on 'Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up', which airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on Lifetime Comments Gypsy-Rose Blanchard is questioning where her relationship with Ken Urker is headed.—
Liza Esquibias,
People.com,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Some Republican lawmakers have expressed hesitance to focus on a DOGE dividend rather than lowering the national deficit or expanding tax cuts, according to Forbes.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacramento Bee,
12 Mar. 2025
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Soren Toft and Vincent Clerc, the CEOs of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Maersk, respectively, have called out the lack of safety guarantees as the top reason for their hesitance to return.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Mar. 2025
Noun
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And with Russia’s Vladimir Putin failing to agree to a full pause in the fighting with Ukraine, signs point to a continuing war and uncertain American support for Ukraine.—
Ella Polak,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2025
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The pandemic provided a reprieve for millions of student loan borrowers, as stimulus checks and payment pauses allowed many of them to bring down their balances.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vacillation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vacillation. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.
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