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Careen vs Vacillate - What's the difference?

careen | vacillate |

As verbs the difference between careen and vacillate

is that careen is (nautical) to heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other, in order to clean it of barnacles and weed, or to repair it below the water line while vacillate is to sway unsteadily from one side to the other; oscillate.

careen

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (nautical) To heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other, in order to clean it of barnacles and weed, or to repair it below the water line.
  • (nautical) To tilt on one side.
  • To lurch or sway violently from side to side.
  • To tilt or lean while in motion.
  • To .
  • Derived terms

    * careenage

    Synonyms

    * heel

    Anagrams

    * ----

    vacillate

    English

    Verb

    (vacillat)
  • To sway unsteadily from one side to the other; oscillate.
  • * 1910:
  • Its [the barometer's] normal register in the Paumotus [the Tuamotus] was 29.90, and it was quite customary to see it vacillate between 29.85 and 30.00, or even 30.05; [...]
  • To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another.
  • * 2004: , Character: Profiles in Presidential Courage
  • On the streets of Berlin, Ruth and her compatriots vacillated "between hope and despair."

    Synonyms

    * (to sway from one side to the other) stagger * (to swing indecisively) blow hot and cold, waffle

    Anagrams

    * ----