ambivalence

noun am·biv·a·lence \ am-ˈbi-və-lən(t)s \

|Updated on: 15 Jul 2018

1 : simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings (such as attraction and repulsion) toward an object, person, or action

felt ambivalence toward his powerful father

ambivalence toward marriage

2 a : continual fluctuation (as between one thing and its opposite)

b : uncertainty as to which approach to follow

ambivalence about their goals

Recent Examples of ambivalence from the Web

In the study, 952 subjects were asked to rate their ambivalence toward their leaders, or bosses, and to rate their overall relationships with their managers, and their emotional experiences at work.

— katie heaney, The Cut, "Why It’s Better to Hate Your Boss Than to Feel Ambivalent Toward Them," 2 July 2018
And the President’s ambivalence last week on the compromise made its future even more dubious.

— philip elliott, Time, "Republicans in Congress Search for an Immigration Bill to End Border Crisis," 20 June 2018
These are determinedly entertaining and uplifting essays, with little room for the more unpleasant byproducts of family life, such as ambivalence, resentment, hostility, or shame.

— adam kirsch, The Atlantic, "The Art of Parenthood," 13 May 2018
Which helps explain his ambivalence about returning to the piano during his recuperation.

— howard reich, chicagotribune.com, "Pianist Kevin Cole stages a comeback after brain surgery," 26 June 2018
As her initial ambivalence to education shows, milder forms of the idea behind Boko Haram have been percolating in Nigerian society for generations.

— mark sappenfield, The Christian Science Monitor, "Nigeria’s schoolgirl rebellion," 26 June 2018
Perhaps our ambivalence stems from the animal’s strangely anthropomorphic quality.

— SFChronicle.com, "Last Word: The raccoon that rose above," 15 June 2018
As the town gears up for the summer season, when the population surges from 15,700 year-round residents to more than 30,000 on a busy weekend, both locals and visitors expressed ambivalence about the looming tower.

— nick corasaniti, New York Times, "A Bet That Luxury Can Be a Part of Asbury Park’s Comeback Story," 1 June 2018
The only known study to look at caregiving in LAT relationships, out of the Netherlands, found that about half of partners planned to provide care, if needed — a sign of ambivalence.

— NBC News, "'Living apart together': A new option for older adults," 11 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ambivalence.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.