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vacillation

vac·il·la·tion [ ˌva-sə-ˈlā-shən]

vacillation

noun

[ˌva-sə-ˈlā-shən]

Definition of vacillation

1 : an act or instance of vacillating

2 : inability to take a stand : irresolution, indecision

Synonyms & Antonyms for dainty

Synonyms: Synonyms

Recent Examples on the Web

//Indeed, the vacillation and unpredictability of Trump’s trade policy have raised economic uncertainty to its highest levels since the 2008 recession, which in turn has weakened investment, employment gains, and market confidence.
— Thomas J. Duesterberg, National Review, "Trump’s Trade Policy at a Crossroads," 17 Sep. 2019
//That has led to some policy vacillations, most damagingly over health care.
— The Economist, "Can Kamala Harris recover from her slump?," 12 Sep. 2019
//Harris’s vacillations seem indicative of the risks for candidates who are looking to match Sanders’s clarity of rhetoric, without a full commitment to substance.
— Osita Nwanevu, The New Yorker, "The Democratic Divide on the Future of Health Care," 28 June 2019
//That offer, made at a White House news conference, evoked a vacillation between threats and diplomacy that characterized the U.S. administration’s recent engagement with North Korea.
— Asa Fitch, WSJ, "Iran’s Supreme Leader Rules Out U.S. Talks in Trump-esque Style," 13 Aug. 2018
//Others think that such vacillations might encode and transmit information.
— Quanta Magazine, "The Beasts That Keep the Beat," 22 Mar. 2016
//That's anything but a certainty, though, given Trump's constant vacillations on issues like this.
— Aaron Blake, Washington Post, "How Republicans could call Trump’s bluff on separating families," 20 June 2018
//Both Jolly and Brown say Trump's frequent policy vacillations may be a major factor driving the wave of Republican retirements, with dozens of GOP members announcing plans to exit Congress this year.
— NBC News, "Forget a GOP civil war — the biggest fight plaguing Hill Republicans may be Trump vs. Trump," 18 June 2018
//There were no real jumps or serious dips—just some standard vacillation.
— Lindsey Lanquist, SELF, "I Tracked My Heart Rate While Watching the 10 'Scariest' Movies on Netflix," 14 June 2018

First Known Use of vacillation

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for vacillation

Middle English vacillacion, borrowed from Latin vacillātiōn-, vacillātiō, from vacillāre "to be unsteady, vacillate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

Dictionary Entries near vacillation

More Synonyms and Antonyms ofvacillation

Synonyms & Antonyms of vacillation

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

Synonyms for vacillation

Words Related to vacillation

Near Antonyms for vacillation