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 After all, the feature debut of Swiss director and writer Jan-Eric Mack features an ambivalent main character, namely a single mother who doesn’t fit neatly into categories of black or white and good or evil. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026 Since then, Canada’s relationship with Mexico has remained ambivalent. — Whitney Eulich, Christian Science Monitor, 29 June 2026 The critical reaction was more ambivalent. — Max Norman, New Yorker, 25 June 2026 South Korean public opinion, especially among younger generations, has also grown increasingly ambivalent about the potentially enormous economic and social costs reunification would entail. — Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for ambivalent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambivalent
  1. unsure
  2. conflicted
  3. afraid
  4. hesitant
  5. uncertain
Adjective
  • Funding fights, shifting eligibility rules and abrupt program cuts have played out simultaneously at the federal level, leaving many organizations unsure what the ground will look like from one quarter to the next.
    — Keely Cat-Wells, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • At a time when many of their peers are unsure of what's next, the students are happy their skills are in demand.
    — Andrea Hsu, NPR, 21 July 2026
Definition of unsure
Adjective
  • Trump has appeared more conflicted with the conservative Supreme Court justices since February, when the court struck down his sweeping global tariffs in a 6-3 vote supported by Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Neil Gorsuch and Barrett.
    — Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • The traditional Marxist framework may explain why Flaubert, the conflicted son of a successful provincial surgeon, wrote naturalistic novels mocking the grandiose aspirations of the rural bourgeoisie, Sartre conceded.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 July 2026
Definition of conflicted
Adjective
  • The kind who drive across town for the right crust and aren't afraid to wait for it.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026
  • Don’t be afraid to volunteer for a responsibility that scares you a little.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
Definition of afraid
Adjective
  • Its aging customer base had stopped eating out or died during the pandemic, and older customers were still hesitant to go back.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Especially in the trucking industry, where the average truck driver is 47 years old, workers may be hesitant toward AI.
    — Toni Pisano, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of hesitant
Adjective
  • All available polling data indicates that the public mood in Russia is growing more uncertain and anxious.
    — Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2026
  • But advocates like Amy Behnke, who leads the Health Center Association of Nebraska, said the state's notices were confusing and left many low-income people uncertain if the new rules apply to them.
    — Julie Wernau, NPR, 31 July 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 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of ambivalent for Spanish Speakers

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