as in hesitancy
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action
one moment's hesitation on my part, and the elusive butterfly was lost to me forever
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hesitation
And, in the Japanese dub, the pairs’ voice actors Kikunosuke Toya and Reina Ueda do a fantastic job, emphasizing Denji and Reze’s immaturity and hesitation in this burgeoning relationship.
—
Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2025
However, as the wedding got closer, both Megan and Jordan expressed hesitation over their opposing personalities and lives.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
That hesitation allowed room for Nick to swoop in and declare his love for Annie.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 22 Oct. 2025
But Hassett expressed hesitation about Democrats’ top demand – that expiring health care subsidies in the Affordable Care Act are extended to keep insurance premiums from increasing.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitation
Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2025
However, as the wedding got closer, both Megan and Jordan expressed hesitation over their opposing personalities and lives.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
That hesitation allowed room for Nick to swoop in and declare his love for Annie.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 22 Oct. 2025
But Hassett expressed hesitation about Democrats’ top demand – that expiring health care subsidies in the Affordable Care Act are extended to keep insurance premiums from increasing.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitation
Noun
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This hesitancy is common, Travers said, because people may be fearful of being judged or of having their trauma follow them later in life.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
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Yet Trump’s mercurial nature has given other presidential scholars, who cited the president’s six-month journey to even suggest that Vance and Rubio were in the running to succeed him, some hesitancy.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Now, there is some reason for hesitance here, mainly because Raymond could be playing with a rotating cast on his line’s left wing this season.—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
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Still, the Sons of Anarchy star has been open about his initial hesitance to take on the role.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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If the pause continues, Forgotten Harvest will extensively fundraise.—
Nushrat Rahman,
Freep.com,
27 Oct. 2025
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Congress signed into law a divest-or-ban order during the Biden administration, but Trump—whose Justice Department must enforce a ban—issued, then repeatedly extended, an enforcement pause in the interest of coming to terms about divestiture.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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What To Know Propel surveyed 2,463 active SNAP users between October 20 and 21, 2025, to assess how a potential delay in SNAP payments would impact them.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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On Friday evening, airports in Phoenix, Houston and San Diego were reporting delays because of staffing issues, and the Federal Aviation Administration warned that staffing problems were also possible at airports in the New York area, Dallas and Philadelphia.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hesitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitation. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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