Vacillatory

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Characterized by wavering or being unable to make firm decisions, showing a tendency to shift between different opinions or courses of action
2. Displaying a pattern of indecisiveness and uncertainty, this term refers to a tendency to oscillate between differing options or beliefs, often leading to fluctuating conclusions
3. Exhibiting a lack of resolution or firmness, this term pertains to the inclination to waver between contrasting choices or ideas, resulting in inconsistency in decisions

Etymology: "Vacillatory" is built from "vacillate" and the suffix "-ory," which turns a verb into an adjective meaning "relating to or characterized by" the action. "Vacillate" itself comes from the Latin "vacillare," meaning to sway or totter, the same image of something rocking back and forth that the English word keeps. Its literal sense is physical swaying, and the idea of swaying between options came later. The suffix does most of the work here. Words ending in "-ory," such as "advisory" or "obligatory," describe something that performs or embodies an action, so a vacillatory stance is one that keeps swinging between positions. The result is a deliberately formal word, used mostly in writing where a plain "wavering" would seem too casual.

Synonyms: indecisive, wavering, hesitant

Antonyms: decisive, resolute