1
as in reluctance
a lack of willingness or desire to do or accept something
sales figures for the month were up, as consumers began to overcome their hesitance about purchasing big-ticket items
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hesitation
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action
she mistook my hesitance to mean I didn't like her poem, but I was trying to come up with appropriate words of praise
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hesitance
Though the party may not explicitly endorse such behaviors, its hesitance to denounce them outright can be perceived as tacit approval, alienating voters who value law and order.
—
Nafees Alam, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2025
This is partly a reflection of the collapse of studio interest in newsy documentaries as well as hesitance around a movie that condemns Israeli policies.
—Marc Tracy, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
Seeing the toll these illnesses can have on patients, some countries experience less hesitance with vaccination than the US does, according to experts.
—Neha Mukherjee, CNN, 3 Mar. 2025
Boomers are more likely to emphasize resilience, self-reliance, and the belief that personal struggles should be handled privately, that seeking help is a weakness, resulting in a hesitance to seek external support like therapy.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitance
Nafees Alam, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2025
This is partly a reflection of the collapse of studio interest in newsy documentaries as well as hesitance around a movie that condemns Israeli policies.
—Marc Tracy, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
Seeing the toll these illnesses can have on patients, some countries experience less hesitance with vaccination than the US does, according to experts.
—Neha Mukherjee, CNN, 3 Mar. 2025
Boomers are more likely to emphasize resilience, self-reliance, and the belief that personal struggles should be handled privately, that seeking help is a weakness, resulting in a hesitance to seek external support like therapy.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitance
Noun
-
Although the cap mirrors a G7 mechanism, U.S. reluctance to support a lower price forced the EU to act independently.—
Katya Soldak,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
-
Hazel’s reluctance stems from her personal knowledge of the priest.—
Oline H. Cogdill,
Sun Sentinel,
20 July 2025
Noun
-
Decades later in an interview with The Saturday Evening Post, Brolin reflected on his initial hesitation to take the role.—
Alexandra Schonfeld,
People.com,
18 July 2025
-
The right people are drawn to energy, not hesitation.—
JW Roth,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
Still, the uncertainty surrounding his foot — and, frankly, his wage dispute — could likely yield to some hesitancy.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
25 July 2025
-
Others have suggested that there may be a link to more widespread hesitancy around government intervention on individual health that ramped up during the Covid-19 pandemic.—
Deidre McPhillips,
CNN Money,
24 July 2025
Noun
-
Decisions are made, the next task appears, and there’s little pause to examine what worked or what missed.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
Even though no funding has been cut, Jackson condemned the administration, contending the effect of the pause is going to be massive and could result in North Carolina firing about 1,000 educators.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hesitance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitance. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.
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