Definitions
- Describing a person who is indecisive and cannot make up their mind. - Referring to someone who is uncertain or hesitant about a decision. - Talking about someone who is oscillating between two options or ideas.
- Describing someone who is uncertain or hesitant about a decision. - Referring to someone who is unsteady or shaky in their resolve or conviction. - Talking about someone who is fluctuating between two options or ideas.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe a lack of firmness or decisiveness.
- 2Both words suggest a state of uncertainty or hesitation.
- 3Both words can be used to describe a person's behavior or actions.
- 4Both words can be used figuratively to describe a person's emotional state.
What is the difference?
- 1Intensity: Vacillate implies a more extreme form of indecision or wavering than waver.
- 2Frequency: Vacillate suggests a repeated or ongoing pattern of indecision, while waver may refer to a single instance of hesitation.
- 3Connotation: Vacillate has a more negative connotation, suggesting weakness or incompetence, while waver is more neutral.
- 4Usage: Vacillate is more commonly used in formal writing or speech, while waver is more common in everyday conversation.
Remember this!
Vacillate and waver are synonyms that both describe a lack of firmness or decisiveness. However, vacillate implies a more extreme form of indecision or wavering than waver, and has a more negative connotation. Vacillate is also more commonly used in formal writing or speech, while waver is more common in everyday conversation.
