fence-sitters
Those avoiding commitment
Fence-sitters are people who refuse to commit to a side in a debate, conflict, or decision.
The image is of someone perched on a fence between two properties, belonging to neither.
The term usually carries a negative connotation—suggesting indecision, cowardice, or unwillingness to take a stand: The fence-sitters in Congress refused to vote either way.
Not having chosen
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- hesitantSlow to act
- uncommittedNot bound to anything
- ambivalentHaving contradictory feelings
torn · wishy-washy · vacillating · dithering · noncommittal · irresolute · uncertain · waffling
Unaffiliated persons or entities
- moderatesReduces intensity or extremity
- centristsPolitical middle-dwellers
- undecidedsPeople without firm positions
- persuadablesThose open to influence
crossover · battleground · pivotal · crucial · courted · targeted · polling · campaigns
Those who forgo indulgence
- bystandersPeople present but uninvolved
- observersThose who watch events
- nonparticipantsThose not taking part
- holdoutsThose refusing to yield
wait-and-see · passive · disengaged · uninvolved · sideline · onlookers · spectators · apathetic
undecided
Not having chosen
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- hesitantSlow to act
- uncommittedNot bound to anything
ambivalent · torn · wishy-washy · vacillating · dithering · noncommittal · irresolute · uncertain · waffling · hedging
independents
Unaffiliated persons or entities
- moderatesReduces intensity or extremity
- centristsPolitical middle-dwellers
- undecidedsPeople without firm positions
persuadables · crossover · battleground · pivotal · crucial · courted · targeted · polling · campaigns · elections
abstainers
Those who forgo indulgence
- bystandersPeople present but uninvolved
- observersThose who watch events
- nonparticipantsThose not taking part
holdouts · wait-and-see · passive · disengaged · uninvolved · sideline · onlookers · spectators · apathetic · non-aligned
- moderatesmoderates, centrists, independents, middle-of-the-road, compromisers
- hoverershummingbirds, dragonflies, helicopters, drones, quadcopters
fence-sitterspartisans
Staunch factional supporters
true believers · diehards · loyalists · zealots · ideologues
fence-sittersdeciders
Those who determine outcomes
go-getters · doers · activists · movers and shakers · self-starters
fence, sitter, fences, fenced, fencing, sitters, sits, sitting, defense