vacillate

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Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈvæ.sə.leɪt/, /ˈvæ.sɪ.leɪt/

Verb

vacillate (vacillates, present participle vacillating; past and past participle vacillated)

1. (intransitive) To sway unsteadily from one side to the other; oscillate.
   • 1910: Jack London, The Heathen

     Its [the barometer's] normal register in the Paumotus [the Tuamotus] was 29.90, and it was quite customary to see it vacillate between 29.85 and 30.00, or even 30.05; [...]

2. (intransitive) To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another.
   • 2004: Chris Wallace, Character: Profiles in Presidential Courage

     On the streets of Berlin, Ruth and her compatriots vacillated "between hope and despair."

Synonyms

• (to sway from one side to the other) stagger
• (to swing indecisively) blow hot and cold, waffle

Translations

• French: vaciller
• German: schwanken
• Italian: vacillare, ondeggiare, oscillare, sbandare, esitare
• Portuguese: vacilar
• Russian: колеба́ться

Translations

• French: hésiter
• German: schwanken
• Italian: dubitare
• Portuguese: vacilar
• Russian: колеба́ться

Translations

• Portuguese: vacilar

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