What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
vacillate
Example
She vacillated between ordering pizza or sushi for dinner. [vacillated: past tense]
Example
The politician's speech vacillated between two opposing viewpoints. [vacillated: past participle]
waver
Example
I could see her waver in her decision to quit her job. [waver: verb]
Example
His voice wavered as he spoke about his fear of heights. [wavered: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Waver is more commonly used than vacillate in everyday language. Waver is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while vacillate is less common and tends to be used in more formal settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between vacillate and waver?
While vacillate is typically associated with a formal tone, waver is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
