vacillate

/ˈva-sə-ˌlāt/

borrowed from Latin vacillātus, past participle of vacillāre "to be unsteady, totter, be weak or inconstant, waver," of uncertain origin

verb

  1. to waver in mind, will, or feeling : hesitate in choice of opinions or courses

  2. to sway through lack of equilibrium

  3. fluctuate, oscillate

hesitate waver vacillate falter mean to show irresolution or uncertainty. hesitate implies a pause before deciding or acting or choosing. waver implies hesitation after seeming to decide and so connotes weakness or a retreat.