vacillation
/vasɪˈleɪʃ(ə)n
/noun [mass noun]
The inability to decide between different opinions or actions; indecision: the First Minister’s vacillation over the affair...
- The vacillation between being firm and compassionate pulls apart every policy proposal.
- In a way, the organisers were pre-empting any possible vacillation in the minds of children and prevent them from becoming child workers.
- But behind the scenes there has been vacillation, from politicians and civil servants alike, over costs and funding and location.
Synonyms
dithering, indecision, indecisiveness, irresoluteness, uncertainty, unsureness, doubt, wavering, teetering, temporization, hesitation, oscillation, fluctuation, inconstancy;
British havering, humming and hawing;
Scottish swither
informal dilly-dallying, shilly-shallying, blowing hot and cold