VACILLATES Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

vacillates

verb

present tense third-person singular of vacillate

as in hesitates

to show uncertainty about the right course of action vacillated for so long that someone else stepped in and made the decision

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of vacillates Then there are the fragmented attention spans birthed by our dearly beloved screens, which cultivate a kind of cognitive whiplash that vacillates between amnesia and yearning for more. — Christopher Coffman, The Conversation, 24 Aug. 2026 This is someone who vacillates between different ways of being. — Hunter Ingram, Variety, 1 Aug. 2026 The characters have little time to make life-or-death decisions, let alone ruminate, and the action vacillates between triage and doctors expertly improvising solutions — like Mel (Taylor Dearden) donating her own blood, and Javadi (Shabana Azeez) going MacGyver mode with a tracheal tube. — Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026 In general, game-to-game data vacillates pretty wildly. — Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 2 June 2026 And Dylan vacillates in that same way. — Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 1 June 2026 Pearl, Dale’s adult daughter, vacillates between disbelieving that her father committed suicide and blaming her mother for it. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025 The opening Allegro vacillates between punchy jabs and fluttery gaiety. — Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vacillates

Verb

If an employee hesitates or overcommits, avoid making assumptions or asking defensive questions.

— Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Your vehicle hesitates when shifting gears A short pause or delay between pressing the gas and your car responding is an early sign of transmission trouble.

— Michael Kurko, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of hesitates

Verb

American military resources are stretched and political pressure in Washington is mounting, while Iran’s economy falters.

— David Rising, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
This leadership vacuum raises serious questions about the agencies' ability to craft meaningful crypto rules, especially if the Senate's Clarity Act vote falters.

— Cleve Mesidor, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of falters

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vacillated

vacillates

vacillating

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“Vacillates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vacillates. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of vacillates

verb

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