as in unsure
having a mixture of opposing feelings
she's somewhat ambivalent about the relationship
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ambivalent
The event evidently singled out Newsom due to his frontrunner status in very early pre-campaign polling, as well as the leading role California’s high tech industry plays in developing AI and Newsom’s somewhat ambivalent attitude toward AI’s potential effects.
—
Dan Walters, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
Based on the public defender’s account, Bell appeared at best ambivalent in the face of blatant prosecutorial misconduct.
—Beandrea July, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026
Humans have an ambivalent relationship with raccoons.
—Kelly Lambert, Fortune, 16 Jan. 2026
Neither pet nor pest Humans have an ambivalent relationship with raccoons.
—Kelly Lambert, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ambivalent
Dan Walters, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
Based on the public defender’s account, Bell appeared at best ambivalent in the face of blatant prosecutorial misconduct.
—Beandrea July, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026
Humans have an ambivalent relationship with raccoons.
—Kelly Lambert, Fortune, 16 Jan. 2026
Neither pet nor pest Humans have an ambivalent relationship with raccoons.
—Kelly Lambert, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ambivalent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambivalent
Adjective
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The facility’s staff was unsure of the final cooking temperature of chicken, or reheating temperature of foods for hot holding.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado,
Sacbee.com,
27 Feb. 2026
-
This feels like a movie made by artists afraid of their employers as much as their consumers and unsure which group might turn on them first.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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By being honest about the sacrifices required to move from a local paper to a major TV news anchor desk, Maggie gave us permission to be ambitious and conflicted.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
3 Mar. 2026
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But that conflicted state is a fascinating springboard for the relationships in the play.—
Doni Wilson,
Houston Chronicle,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
All your really doing is physically hurting your child–which might lead them to feel angry, afraid, or betrayed.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
3 Mar. 2026
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Over its eight-year run, ABC’s The Rookie has never been afraid to color outside the lines of the network TV cop show format.—
Josef Adalian,
Vulture,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Wild are very hesitant to part with Russian rookie center Danila Yurov, whose development in his first year playing in North America has been impressive.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
1 Mar. 2026
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Angela Hassell, the executive director of Loaves and Fishes, offered both hesitant support for and doubts about the safe camping site.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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When that might happen is highly uncertain, and completely up to Guthrie, given this month’s agonizing and all-consuming search for her mother Nancy.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
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The uncertain availability and high prices have been complicating plans for out-of-town fans hoping to travel to North American cities for matches.—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ambivalent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambivalent. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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