Library / English Dictionary

VACILLATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Move or sway in a rising and falling or wavelike pattern

Example:

the line on the monitor vacillated

Synonyms:

fluctuate; vacillate; waver

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "vacillate" is one way to...):

swing (alternate dramatically between high and low values)

Verb group:

fluctuate (cause to fluctuate or move in a wavelike pattern)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

vacillation (changing location by moving back and forth)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action

Example:

He oscillates between accepting the new position and retirement

Synonyms:

hover; oscillate; vacillate; vibrate

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Hypernyms (to "vacillate" is one way to...):

hesitate; waffle; waver (pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "vacillate"):

shillyshally (be uncertain and vague)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

vacillant (uncertain in purpose or action)

vacillation (indecision in speech or action)

vacillator (one who hesitates (usually out of fear))

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