vacillate

What does “vacillate” mean?

verb.to alternate or waver between different opinions or actions; to be indecisive.

SAT Usage

vacillate often appears in passages about decision-making, personal dilemmas, or philosophical debates, highlighting the struggle between conflicting choices or beliefs. It emphasizes a lack of resolution or certainty, distinguishing it from similar words like "fluctuate," which pertains more to physical changes rather than indecision in thought or action.

Common Confusions

Vacillate implies indecision or wavering between choices, while fluctuate usually suggests a regular change or variation, often in measurable terms like temperature or price.

Example Sentences

• He continued to vacillate between two competing job offers.

• Despite her initial conviction, she began to vacillate between two career paths, torn between her passion for art and her family's expectations.