vacillating

[ vas-uh-ley-ting ]

adjective

1. not resolute; wavering; indecisive; hesitating:

   an ineffectual, vacillating person.

   Synonyms: irresolute, hesitant

2. oscillating; swaying; fluctuating:

   a vacillating indicator.

vacillating

/ ˈvæsɪlənt; ˈvæsɪˌleɪtɪŋ /

adjective

1. inclined to waver; indecisive

Derived Forms

• ˈvacilˌlatingly, adverb

Other Words From

• vacil·lating·ly adverb
• non·vacil·lating adjective
• un·vacil·lating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vacillating¹

First recorded in 1805–15; vacillat(e) + -ing ²

Synonym Study

See fickle.

Example Sentences

We are a country, and a world, chasing its tail – vacillating between hatred, anger and a desire for peace.

From Salon

Her husband’s vacillating nature infuriates her.

From Los Angeles Times

Throwing in with the CRM never stopped her from vacillating back and forth between her identities: Jadis and Anne, Alexandria and the authoritarian military.

From Salon

Second, I wonder if part of what Lorne is kind of vacillating between right now is acknowledging that he still has political pull through both “Saturday Night Live,” and the other pies he has his fingers in.

From Salon

Whereas “The Homecoming” was noted for its claustrophobic machismo, here it’s the women who dominate the proceedings, vacillating between sisterly tenderness and bitter recriminations.

From New York Times