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
After a whirlwind romance and much theatrical vacillation, Lowell abandoned Hardwick to join Blackwood in London in 1970, a move that would forever mark her as the other woman to Hardwick’s many passionate partisans.
—
Negar Azimi, The New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2024
The exhibition continually plays upon vacillations between intimacy and exposure, with one of the Torso prints of black and white buttocks enlarged and sprawling down the length of one gallery.
—Ara H. Merjian, ARTnews.com, 4 Oct. 2024
The uptick in shoplifting over the past six months, which follows vacillations trending upward over the past two years, is at least somewhat attributable to macroeconomic factors, according to a study released by LendingTree last week.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 2 Aug. 2024
The vacillation between tragic and comic set pieces does justice to neither.
—Moises Mendez Ii, TIME, 23 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for vacillation
Negar Azimi, The New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2024
The exhibition continually plays upon vacillations between intimacy and exposure, with one of the Torso prints of black and white buttocks enlarged and sprawling down the length of one gallery.
—Ara H. Merjian, ARTnews.com, 4 Oct. 2024
The uptick in shoplifting over the past six months, which follows vacillations trending upward over the past two years, is at least somewhat attributable to macroeconomic factors, according to a study released by LendingTree last week.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 2 Aug. 2024
The vacillation between tragic and comic set pieces does justice to neither.
—Moises Mendez Ii, TIME, 23 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for vacillation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vacillation
Noun
-
At the time, there was some hesitation in the industry about partnering with a Chinese drugmaker.—
Kerry A. Dolan,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
-
However, during the hearing, lobbyists for both the Chiefs and Royals would not commit to staying in Missouri if the plan passed, which could spark hesitation among some senators.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
The gaming industry has been hit hard in recent years with layoffs, delayed funding and investor hesitancy.—
Chris Hewish,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
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That’s due to several factors, such as challenges related to cost and access and hesitancy among some cardiologists and primary care physicians.—
Annika Kim Constantino,Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
But that is where the similarities end, and where the hesitance to believe the Knicks had a chance at the reigning champs seeps in deep.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
6 May 2025
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This hesitance only reinforces the false narrative that race is a divisive topic rather than an integral part of understanding American society.—
Anne Tapp Jaksa,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
An extended pause in scheduling student visas could lead to delays that may disrupt college, boarding-school or exchange students’ plans to enroll in summer and fall terms.—
Annie Ma,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2025
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What To Know Secretary of State Marco Rubio had signed and sent a diplomatic cable on Tuesday ordering the pause to student visa interviews and outlining a shift in vetting procedures.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vacillation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vacillation. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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