Vacillating — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /ˈva-sə-ˌlāt/ vac·il·late

Meaning & Definition of Vacillating

Vacillating (verb)

  1. to waver in mind, will, or feeling, hesitate in choice of opinions or courses
  2. to sway through lack of equilibrium
  3. fluctuate, oscillate

Vacillating (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in uncertain, unsure

    similar: doubtful, faltering, irresolute, questioning, uncertain, undecided, unsure, wobbly, ambivalent, conflicted, equivocal, afraid, disinclined, dubious, hesitant, indisposed, loath, reluctant
    opposite: unambivalent, certain, decided, resolute, sure, unquestioning

Vacillating (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to show uncertainty about the right course of action

    "vacillated for so long that someone else stepped in and made the decision"

    similar: balancing, dithering, faltering, halting, hanging back, hesitating, scrupling, shilly-shallying, staggering, teetering, wavering, wobbling
    related: hawing, hemming, dallying, dawdling, delaying, lingering, pausing, procrastinating, waiting, backing down, chickening (out), considering, debating, deliberating, pondering, weighing, oscillating, swaying, equivocating, hedging, pussyfooting, waffling
    opposite: diving (in), plunging (in)
    near: deciding, budging, stirring, advancing, continuing

Related Entry: Vacillate (verb)

Vacillate is a different word from Vacillating. The synonyms below are for vacillate, not for vacillating.

  1. to show uncertainty about the right course of action

    "vacillated for so long that someone else stepped in and made the decision"

    similar: balance, dither, falter, halt, hang back, hesitate, scruple, shilly-shally, stagger, teeter, waver, wobble
    related: haw, hem, dally, dawdle, delay, linger, pause, procrastinate, wait, back down, chicken (out), consider, debate, deliberate, ponder, weigh, oscillate, sway, equivocate, hedge, pussyfoot, waffle
    opposite: dive (in), plunge (in)
    near: decide, budge, stir, advance, continue

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Vacillating

The most common words with a similar meaning to Vacillating:

doubtful, faltering, irresolute, questioning, uncertain, undecided, unsure, wobbly, ambivalent, conflicted, equivocal, afraid, disinclined, dubious, hesitant, indisposed, loath, reluctant, balancing, dithering, halting, hanging back, hesitating, scrupling, shilly-shallying, staggering, teetering, wavering, wobbling

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Vacillating

Words with the opposite meaning of Vacillating:

unambivalent, certain, decided, resolute, sure, unquestioning, diving (in), plunging (in)

Related Words for Vacillating

hawing, hemming, dallying, dawdling, delaying, lingering, pausing, procrastinating, waiting, backing down, chickening (out), considering, debating, deliberating, pondering, weighing, oscillating, swaying, equivocating, hedging, pussyfooting, waffling

Near Antonyms of Vacillating

deciding, budging, stirring, advancing, continuing

Word Forms of Vacillating

Inflections: vacillated

Derived words: vacillatingly (adverb), vacillator (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Vacillating

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

First known use: 1597

Frequently Asked Questions about Vacillating

What does "Vacillating" mean?

"Vacillating" means to waver in mind, will, or feeling, hesitate in choice of opinions or courses. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to waver in mind, will, or feeling, hesitate in choice of opinions or courses. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Vacillating"?

Other words for "Vacillating" include doubtful, faltering, irresolute, questioning, uncertain, undecided, unsure and wobbly. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Vacillating" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Vacillating"?

There are 51 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Vacillating". Common alternatives include doubtful, faltering, irresolute, questioning, uncertain, undecided, unsure, wobbly, ambivalent and conflicted.

What is the opposite of "Vacillating"?

Antonyms of "Vacillating" include unambivalent, certain, decided, resolute, sure, unquestioning, diving (in) and plunging (in). Near antonyms include deciding, budging, stirring and advancing.

How do you use "Vacillating" in a sentence?

Examples of "Vacillating" in a sentence: "vacillated for so long that someone else stepped in and made the decision".

Is "Vacillating" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Vacillating" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Vacillating"?

"Vacillating" is pronounced /ˈva-sə-ˌlāt/ and divided into syllables as vac·il·late.

What is the origin of the word "Vacillating"?

"Vacillating" comes from borrowed from Latin vacillātus, past participle of vacillāre "to be unsteady, totter, be weak or inconstant, waver," of uncertain origin. First known use: 1597.