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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Taking small steps toward dating and being open to new experiences can help break the cycle of hesitation.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
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But as the weeks passed, Minnie's initial hesitation turned into affection.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
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There’s a fight ahead, and Jacob’s hesitancy to accept the changing times likely won’t be his ally in it.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2025
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Zoom out: The effort comes as some Republicans express hesitancy about Chavez-DeRemer.—
Stef W. Kight,
Axios,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
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In 2019, when recounting that milestone from her own perspective, McCaskey first recalled the sharp anxiety leading up to the game and her hesitance to answer any of the league’s logistical questions about preparing for the trophy presentation ceremony.—
Dan Wiederer,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2025
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Intelligence officials are likely to be concerned about the long-term effect that Trump’s policies will have on their agencies’ roles and authorities, leading to caution and hesitance that harm operational effectiveness.—
Peter Schroeder,
Foreign Affairs,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The program is on pause after legal challenges from states, and the amount of savings its elimination could generate, $150 billion or more, depends on the status of the litigation.—
Margot Sanger-Katz,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2025
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An offer sheet for this player would need to be significant to give Bowman pause, so $10 million times seven seasons would need to be a comfort zone for an opposition general manager.—
Allan Mitchell,
The Athletic,
21 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vacillation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vacillation. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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