HESITANCY Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

hesitancy

noun

ˈhe-zə-tən(t)-sē

as in reluctance

a lack of willingness or desire to do or accept something his appointment to the superintendency was confirmed by the school board without the least hesitancy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in hesitation

a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action his hesitancy in pulling over into the next lane while he had a chance resulted in him missing his exit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of hesitancy Now on the Democratic side, at least when this began, there was hesitancy from Democrats, even about Newsom’s idea of fighting fire with fire. —

Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026 Cutting that research doesn’t make hesitancy disappear. —

A.j. Russo, Baltimore Sun, 13 May 2026 The decline in vitamin K uptake is still believed to be related to vaccine and medicine hesitancy, according to both the JAMA study and ProPublica investigation. —

Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 8 May 2026 This hesitancy and worry about speaking up is the way free speech dies. —

Literary Hub, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for hesitancy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitancy

Noun

The reason for this defeat was not a reluctance to use force.

— Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 19 June 2026
In what may be a sign of Ossoff’s reluctance to discuss a 2028 campaign for president, his campaign declined USA TODAY's request for an interview.

— Jay Stahl, USA Today, 18 June 2026