ambivalent

adjective

am-ˈbi-və-lənt How to pronounce ambivalent (audio)
Definition of ambivalentnext
as in unsure
having a mixture of opposing feelings she's somewhat ambivalent about the relationship

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ambivalent What reads at a casual distance as serene maternal tenderness shifts, on closer inspection, into something more ambivalent—a shade of melancholy that surfaces only when the eye lingers on Mary’s face. — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026 Latinos were ambivalent about Proposition 187, the 1994 California ballot initiative that sought to deny immigrants and their families access to social services. — Eladio Bobadilla, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026 That song features a special guest, credited under the pseudonym Son-John Johnson, who sure sounds a lot like Geese’s Cameron Winter — another indie singer-songwriter who often seems ambivalent about being put under the microscope of fame. — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026 People feel ambivalent about scrolling feeds, Marika Lüders, a professor of media and communication at the University of Oslo, wrote to me on this point. — Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ambivalent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambivalent
  1. unsure
  2. conflicted
  3. afraid
  4. hesitant
  5. uncertain
Adjective
  • Many of Martin’s clients come in feeling anxious about making the leap, unsure whether the look will suit them.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The operator was unsure how to properly wash, rinse and sanitize dishes.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of unsure
Adjective
  • The movie ends with Bryan successfully getting his package to the scientists working on a cure, but shortly thereafter succumbing to his infection, turning into an increasingly grotesque (though conflicted) monster and killing them all.
    — Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Some fans with tickets to the concert, like Dan Shapiro, felt conflicted about going.
    — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of conflicted
Adjective
  • Despite not registering a goal or an assist in just over an hour on the pitch, the youngster was never afraid to receive the ball and try to make something happen.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026
  • As in the past, the show’s creators are seemingly not afraid to bite the hand that feeds them.
    — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of afraid
Adjective
  • Initially hesitant, David connected with the FBI in an effort to prove that his wife’s theory was false.
    — Jane LaCroix, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Until recently, city leaders were hesitant to commit Measure ULA funds over concerns that the tax could be overturned in court.
    — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of hesitant
Adjective
  • The problem of longevity possesses philosophical and practical contradictions, now heightened by the gradual disappearance of artists of Serra’s generation and the uncertain posthumous legacy of their work.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The project faces uncertain costs, a timeline that could push exports beyond 2028 and possible legal challenges.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of uncertain

Browse Nearby Words

ambits
ambivalent
amble
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Cite this Entry

“Ambivalent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambivalent. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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