Definitions
- Referring to a pause or delay in action due to uncertainty or doubt. - Describing a momentary pause before making a decision or taking action. - Talking about a reluctance or unease to proceed with something due to fear or lack of confidence.
- Referring to indecisiveness or wavering between two or more options. - Describing a lack of commitment or firmness in making a decision. - Talking about a tendency to change one's mind frequently or to be easily swayed by others.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe a delay or pause in decision-making or action-taking.
- 2Both words can indicate uncertainty or doubt.
- 3Both words can refer to a lack of confidence or commitment.
What is the difference?
- 1Scope: Hesitation is typically a momentary pause or delay, while vacillation can be a prolonged state of indecisiveness.
- 2Intensity: Vacillation implies a greater degree of indecisiveness or wavering than hesitation.
- 3Cause: Hesitation can be caused by uncertainty or doubt, while vacillation can be caused by a lack of commitment or being easily swayed by others.
- 4Direction: Hesitation is often inward-focused, while vacillation can involve external factors or influences.
- 5Connotation: Hesitation can be neutral or even positive in some contexts, while vacillation is generally negative and implies weakness or indecisiveness.
Remember this!
Hesitation and vacillation both refer to a delay or pause in decision-making or action-taking. However, hesitation is typically a momentary pause caused by uncertainty or doubt, while vacillation implies a prolonged state of indecisiveness caused by a lack of commitment or being easily swayed by others. Hesitation can be neutral or even positive in some contexts, while vacillation is generally negative and implies weakness or indecisiveness.
