All words

vacillate

Meaning

To exhibit indecision or uncertainty when choosing between different courses of action or opinions.

Examples by difficulty

Basic: Simple, everyday vocabulary — the easiest to read.

Lucy would vacillate every time she had to pick a place to eat with her friends. She would say yes to one idea, then change her mind a minute later. Her friends watched her hesitate, knowing she found it hard to choose between different places.

Sarah couldn't decide on the movie. She would want the action flick, then suddenly feel like a quiet drama. She’d vacillate back and forth, unable to commit to a single choice, her mind a constant pendulum of indecision.

When faced with the job offer, Sarah would vacillate between excitement and doubt. The opportunity seemed perfect, but something held her back. She knew she needed to make a choice soon, yet her mind kept shifting between yes and no, unable to settle on a clear path forward.

Jenny stood at the ice cream shop, her mind starting to vacillate between chocolate and vanilla. She stared so hard at the menu that the cashier almost called security. After ten minutes, Jenny left with a cup of napkins because even her taste buds couldn't decide.

Harold couldn't decide between the polka-dot socks or the ones with tiny tacos. He’d grab one pair, then quickly put it back. His brain seemed to vacillate like a wobbly jelly on a trampoline, unable to pick which silly foot-huggers would best complement his banana-print shirt.

Normal: Standard, everyday language.

Jane couldn't make up her mind about what to have for dinner. She vacillated between ordering pizza or cooking pasta, unsure of which option she preferred.

Sarah vacillated between ordering the chocolate cake and the strawberry cheesecake. She couldn't decide which dessert she craved more.

The old house stood decrepit and crumbling, its walls coated with a thick layer of dust and decay. Inside, shadows danced eerily across the walls, causing my heart to vacillate between fear and curiosity. I hesitated to explore further, unsure of what horrors awaited me in the darkness. But something compelled me to continue, to push past my doubts and uncover the secrets hidden within those haunted halls. As I inched closer to the source of the mysterious sounds, my mind wavered, torn between the desire to flee and the need to know the truth.

Amidst the eerie silence, the figure's gaze vacillated from the window to the table, its form flickering like a shadow. The ticking of a clock echoed, a cruel reminder of the choice it had to make. Its breath came in ragged gasps, and its hands trembled. The weight of the decision pressed down upon it like an invisible force, tearing at its very being.

As the brave knight stood before the two paths leading into the enchanted forest, his mind began to vacillate. Should he take the well-worn path to the left, or the overgrown path to the right? His heart told him to go left, where sunlight filtered through the trees and birds sang sweet melodies. But his logic told him to go right, where shadows danced ominously and whispers echoed through the trees. With a deep breath, he made his decision and stepped onto the left path, his resolve firm despite his earlier vacillation. Time would tell if he had chosen wisely.

Advanced: Richer vocabulary that stretches an upper-level reader.

Every morning, Daniel would vacillate between two different routes to work, unable to settle on which was better. His indecision grew with each day, as he hesitated at the intersection, never certain if he had made the right choice.

He couldn't decide whether to accept the offer or stay put, his mind continuing to vacillate between the familiar comfort and the exciting unknown. Each potential path felt equally appealing and terrifying, leaving him stuck in indecision.

When the job offer arrived, Marcus began to vacillate. The secure position seemed appealing, but something about the company's culture made him uneasy. He stared at the contract, weighing his options, knowing his decision would shape his entire career trajectory.

Standing in front of the dessert table, Mark would vacillate between the double chocolate cake and the key lime pie, his mind waging a sweet battle. As his indecision grew, the desserts started to look at him suspiciously, as if demanding he choose a side or leave the premises.

Bartholomew, a connoisseur of exotic cheeses, would often vacillate between the pungent gorgonzola and the offensively stinky durian-infused cheddar. His stomach, however, consistently made the choice for him, usually resulting in a hasty retreat to the nearest porcelain sanctuary.

Challenging: Rare, high-register vocabulary for serious word lovers.

Each morning, Sandra would vacillate between accepting the job offer in another city and staying close to her family. The prospect of new opportunities excited her, yet the thought of leaving her support system caused her to hesitate, unable to settle on a decision.

He knew he should confess his transgression, yet he continued to vacillate. His heart throbbed with a potent mixture of contrition and apprehension, rendering him incapable of committing to either apology or further evasion, caught in a paralyzing internal discord.

Sarah stared at the job offer, her fingers tracing the letterhead. She wanted stability, but the startup's potential was magnetic. Her mind continued to vacillate between the safe corporate path and the alluring risk of innovation, each option feeling simultaneously right and wrong.

Jonathan would vacillate between ordering the gargantuan triple-cheese pizza or the virtuous kale salad, his indecision so profound that the cashier’s facial expression cycled through curiosity, exasperation, and, ultimately, existential dread. Even the soda machine seemed to emit a sympathetic, carb-laden sigh.

The esteemed gastronome, faced with the daunting decision between escargots and frog legs, began to vacillate with such operatic fervor that the maitre d' nearly succumbed to apoplexy. His indecision, a veritable maelstrom of gastronomic angst, caused a palpable consternation among the other diners, accustomed to his typically pellucid pronouncements.

Difficulty

Advanced — Less frequent words that stretch an upper-level vocabulary.

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