back-and-forth
Alternating between positions
Back-and-forth describes movement or exchange between two points, positions, or parties.
The term applies to physical motion the back-and-forth of the pendulum, debate after much back-and-forth, they reached agreement, or any alternating exchange the back-and-forth of emails.
As an adjective: a back-and-forth struggle for control.
Moving in arcs
- rockingOscillating on curved base
- oscillatingSwinging back and forth
- swayingRhythmic lateral movement
- pendulumSuspended swinging weight
shuttling · reciprocating · bouncing · seesawing · zigzagging · pacing · yo-yo · ping-pong
Exchanged written communication
- messagingSending written digital communications
- textingSending typed mobile messages
- emailingTransmitting digital correspondence
- repliesAnswers given back
responses · conversation · banter · repartee · chitchat · interplay · thread · chain
Reasoned case or dispute
- discussionExchange of ideas
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
dialogue · bickering · sparring · volley · rebuttal · counterpoint · haggling · quibbling
Showing unsteady resolve
- hesitatingPausing with doubt
- wafflingEvasive, indecisive speech
- flip-floppingRepeatedly reversing one's stance
- ditheringProlonged indecisive hesitation
seesawing · ambivalence · uncertainty · vacillation · equivocation · second-guessing · wishy-washy · torn
swinging
Moving in arcs
- rockingOscillating on curved base
- oscillatingSwinging back and forth
- swayingRhythmic lateral movement
pendulum · shuttling · reciprocating · bouncing · seesawing · zigzagging · pacing · yo-yo · ping-pong · shuttlecock
correspondence
Exchanged written communication
- messagingSending written digital communications
- textingSending typed mobile messages
- emailingTransmitting digital correspondence
replies · responses · conversation · banter · repartee · chitchat · interplay · thread · chain · rally
argument
Reasoned case or dispute
- discussionExchange of ideas
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
exchange · dialogue · bickering · sparring · volley · rebuttal · counterpoint · haggling · quibbling · deliberation
wavering
Showing unsteady resolve
- hesitatingPausing with doubt
- wafflingEvasive, indecisive speech
- flip-floppingRepeatedly reversing one's stance
dithering · seesawing · ambivalence · uncertainty · vacillation · equivocation · second-guessing · wishy-washy · torn · conflicted
- conversationschat, talk, discussion, discuss, chatter
- dialogueconversation, line, lines, banter, talk
- squabblesspat, tiff, quarrel, bickering, squabble
- talkstalk, conversation, chat, discussion, dialogue
- coming and goingarrival, departure, entrance, exit, hello
- swayingsway, oscillate, rock, swing, undulate
back-and-forthone-way
Permitting single direction travel
unidirectional · linear · straight · irreversible · forward