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vacillate
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Vacillate
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vac·il·late
/
ˈvæs
əˌleɪt
/
Show Spelled
[
vas
-
uh
-leyt
]
Show IPA
verb (used without object),
vac·il·lat·ed,
vac·il·lat·ing.
1.
to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute:
His tendency to vacillate makes him a poor leader.
2.
to sway unsteadily; waver; totter; stagger.
3.
to oscillate or fluctuate.
Origin:
1590–1600;
<
Latin
vacillātus
(past participle of
vacillāre
to sway to and fro); see
-ate
1
Related forms
vac·il·la·tor,
noun
Synonyms
1.
hesitate. See
waver
1
.
2.
reel.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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vacillate
Relevant Questions
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00:10
Vacillate
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is
aberrant
. Does it mean:
So is
shoal
. Does it mean:
So is
anomalous
. Does it mean:
departing from the normal course; deviating from the ordinary type; exceptional or abnormal
easily managed or controlled; docile; easily worked, shaped, or otherwise handled
a deviation from the common rule, type, arrangement, or form.
a place where a sea, river, or other body of water is shallow.
deviating from or inconsistent with the common order, form, or rule; not fitting into a common or type or pattern
objectionably aggressive in offering one's unrequested and unwanted services, help, or advice
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Collins
World English Dictionary
vacillate
(ˈvæsɪˌleɪt)
—
vb
1.
to fluctuate in one's opinions; be indecisive
2.
to sway from side to side physically; totter or waver
[C16: from Latin
vacillāre
to sway, of obscure origin]
vacil'lation
—
n
'vacillator
—
n
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
vacillate
1590s, "to sway unsteadily," from L. vacillatum, from vacillare (see
vacillation
). Meaning "to waver between two opinions or courses" is recorded from 1620s. Related: Vacillated; vacillates; vacillating.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
They
vacillate
between criticism of others and harsh self-criticism.
Many have left large families behind and some
vacillate
painfully between
staying here permanently or returning.
Those who
vacillate
or sulk, will miss a window of opportunity.
When dealing with professionals, many people
vacillate
between servility and
resentment.
Indeed, you yourself appear to
vacillate
between two positions here.
One third
vacillate
between adoption as goal, versus another plan for permanent living.
He seems to
vacillate
between regret and arrogance about the position he is in.
He may
vacillate
awhile longer, perhaps even ultimately settling on a third troop, but he has begun his transfer into adulthood.
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