vacillate
Use Vacillate in a sentence
əˌleɪt 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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To vacillate
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Vacillate
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is aberrant. 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 |
Collins
World English Dictionary
vacillate (ˈvæsɪˌleɪt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —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
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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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
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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.
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