What is another word for vacillate?

Pronunciation: [vˈasɪlˌe͡ɪt] (IPA)

When we say someone is vacillating, we mean they are indecisive and uncertain about something. Some synonyms for vacillate include waver, fluctuate, hesitate, dither, and oscillate. They all suggest a lack of firmness and consistency in thought or action. Wavering suggests being unsteady, while fluctuating implies a continuous rise and fall. Hesitate implies pausing before taking action, while dither suggests being unsure and wasting time. Oscillate suggests a back-and-forth motion, like a pendulum. Regardless of which synonym is used, they all convey the idea of a person being unable to make up their mind or stick to a decision.

Synonyms for Vacillate:

What are the hypernyms for Vacillate?

A hypernym is a word with a broad meaning that encompasses more specific words called hyponyms.

What are the opposite words for vacillate?

Vacillate, meaning to sway or fluctuate between opinions, choices or beliefs, has several antonyms. Firstly, the word 'decide' is an antonym of vacillate. It refers to the act of making an authoritative choice or decision. Secondly, 'resolve' is a synonym that denotes firmness of purpose or determination to act decisively. Another antonym is 'determined', which means being unwavering in one's intentions or opinion. 'Steadfast' is another antonym whereby it suggests someone who is unyielding or resolute in their actions or beliefs. Lastly, 'committed' is a synonymous term that denotes a sense of allegiance or dedication to a particular cause, belief or action.

What are the antonyms for Vacillate?

Usage examples for Vacillate

He ceased to doubt, or vacillate, directly; he whispered Jael Dence to stand near Grace, and watch her closely.
"Put Yourself in His Place"
Charles Reade
And, in the knowledge of what he was to this poor, tormented young wife; in the consciousness of being the only ray of light in this close-shuttered prison-nay, rather bedlam-like existence; in the sense of how completely the happiness of Louise d'Albany depended upon him, whatever there was of generous and dutiful in the selfish and self-willed nature of Alfieri must have become paramount, and enjoined upon him never to vacillate or grow weary in this strange mixture of love and of friendship.
"The Countess of Albany"
Violet Paget (AKA Vernon Lee)
Elizabeth, who at once began to vacillate under the combined threats of La Mothe, the French ambassador, and the arguments of the friend of Catholics, Lord Arundel, was counter-threatened with ruin by Lord Keeper Bacon unless she would throw in her lot finally with the Protestants and continue her hostility and resistance to the Catholic Scotch party.
"By What Authority?"
Robert Hugh Benson

Famous quotes with Vacillate

  • When I come up against the real world, I just vacillate.
    Robert Crumb
  • Certain individual words do possess more pitch, more radiance, more shazam! than others, but it's the way words are juxtaposed with other words in a phrase or sentence that can create magic.When a culture is being dumbed down as effectively as ours is, its narrative arts (literature, film, theatre) seem to vacillate between the brutal and the bland, sometimes in the same work.Less apparent is that bland writing — timid, antiseptic, vanilla writing – is nearly as unhealthy as the brutal and dark.
    Tom Robbins

Related words: vacillate between, fluctuate, fluctuation, waver, oscillate, flip-flopping, tergiversate

Related questions:

  • What does vacillate mean?
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