vacillating
Swinging between options
Vacillating means wavering between options or positions, unable to commit to a decision.
Someone vacillating swings back and forth—not from ignorance but from competing pulls: She spent weeks vacillating between the two job offers.
The word carries a note of criticism, suggesting weakness or indecision rather than thoughtful deliberation.
Slow to act
- irresoluteLacking firmness of purpose
- undecidedNot having chosen
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- ditheringProlonged indecisive hesitation
ambivalent · uncertain · doubtful · equivocal · noncommittal · uncommitted · conflicted · tentative
Troubled by uncertainty
- uneasyTroubled, not calm
- unsettledNot yet resolved
- restlessUnable to be still
- troubledExperiencing distress or anxiety
conflicted · torn · uncertain · nervous · agitated · disquieted · edgy · perturbed
Subject to sudden changes
- mercurialProne to sudden change
- changeableCapable of alteration
- inconstantProne to fluctuation
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
erratic · flighty · whimsical · volatile · mutable · variable · protean · unstable
hesitant
Slow to act
- irresoluteLacking firmness of purpose
- undecidedNot having chosen
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
dithering · ambivalent · uncertain · doubtful · equivocal · noncommittal · uncommitted · conflicted · tentative · perplexed
anxious
Troubled by uncertainty
troubled · conflicted · torn · uncertain · nervous · agitated · disquieted · edgy · perturbed · ambivalent
capricious
Subject to sudden changes
- mercurialProne to sudden change
- changeableCapable of alteration
- inconstantProne to fluctuation
unpredictable · erratic · flighty · whimsical · volatile · mutable · variable · protean · unstable · hot and cold
swaying
Rhythmic lateral movement
- totteringMoving unsteadily, nearly falling
- teeteringUnstably balanced, nearly falling
- wobblingMoving unsteadily, wavering
unsteady · staggering · rocking · lurching · swinging · faltering · stumbling · reeling · listing · pitching
- indecisionindecision, indecisiveness, conflicted, hesitation, indecisive
- uncertaintyuncertainty, uncertain, unknown, unsure, unclear
- cowardicecoward, cowardly, craven, gutless, spineless
- stallingstall, stalling, delay, hesitate, procrastinate
- dawdlingdawdling, dallying, dilly-dallying, lingering, loitering
vacillatingresolute
Fixed in purpose
decisive · determined · unwavering · firm · unhesitating
vacillatingsteady
Fixed, not fluctuating
constant · unchanging · consistent · stable · unvarying
vacillatingconfident
Sure of oneself
self-confident · assured · self-assured · certain · sure