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Vacillate vs Volatile - What's the difference?

vacillate | volatile |

As a verb vacillate

is to sway unsteadily from one side to the other; oscillate.

As an adjective volatile is

(physics) evaporating or vaporizing readily under normal conditions.

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

    Related terms

    * vacillant * vacillating * vacillation * vacillator * vacillatory

    External links

    * * *

    Anagrams

    * ----

    volatile

    English

    (wikipedia volatile)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (physics) evaporating or vaporizing readily under normal conditions.
  • (of a substance, informal) explosive.
  • (of a price etc) variable or erratic.
  • (of a person) quick to become angry or violent.
  • fickle.
  • temporary or ephemeral.
  • (of a situation) potentially violent.
  • (computing, of a variable) having its associated memory immediately updated with any changes in value.
  • (computing, of memory) whose content is lost when the computer is powered down
  • (obsolete) Passing through the air on wings, or by the buoyant force of the atmosphere; flying; having the power to fly.

    • Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * volatility * volatile memory