hesitate

hesitate, waver, vacillate, falter all mean to show irresolution or uncertainty.

Hesitate, the general term, usually implies a pause or other sign of indecision before one makes up one's mind what to do, say, or choose

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I have for many months hesitated about the propriety of allowing . . . any part of my narrative to come before the public eye— De Quincey

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when delivering a speech to pour it out in a copious stream, without pausing to take breath or hesitating over a word— Hudson

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Waver (see also SWING 2) implies hesitation after a decision has been reached and so usually connotes weakness or retreat

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let us hold fast . . . without wavering— Heb 10:23

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the front line which had been advancing rapidly wavered under the heavy fire

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you waver in your convictions— Jefferies

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Vacillate implies prolonged hesitation resulting from one's inability to reach a fixed or final decision; the term connotes alternate decision and indecision or a shifting (as in opinions, choices, or loyalties)

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he may pause, but he must not hesitate—and tremble, but he must not vacillate— Ruskin

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he had vacillated be-tween various substitutes for Oswald up to the very moment when he named the four upon whom he decided finally— H. G. Wells

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I have vacillated when I should have insisted; temporized when I should have taken definite action— Marsh

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Falter suggests a wavering in purpose or action that is evident or is made evident in such signs of fear or nervousness as trembling or the breaking of the voice

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with voice that did not falter though the heart was moved— Wordsworth

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neither to change, nor falter, nor repent— Shelley

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his eyes did not flinch and his tongue did not falter— Conrad

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Analogous words: balk, boggle, stick, stickle, scruple, *demur, shy: fluctuate, oscillate (see SWING)