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
Though fans certainly turned on Phelps as a result of his texts about Childress, the NASCAR garage will likely feel much more ambivalent about the news of his departure.
—
Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
But managing that discomfort is arguably better than relying on an ambivalent superpower.
—Amanda Sloat, Time, 2 Jan. 2026
The contrast shower still left me feeling ambivalent, but breathwork afterward came easier—slow, nasal, steady.
—Marisa McMillan, Outside, 29 Dec. 2025
Reubens, who remained in the closet for much of his life and died in 2023, makes for a cagey, ambivalent subject in Matt Wolf’s posthumous docuseries.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ambivalent
Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
But managing that discomfort is arguably better than relying on an ambivalent superpower.
—Amanda Sloat, Time, 2 Jan. 2026
The contrast shower still left me feeling ambivalent, but breathwork afterward came easier—slow, nasal, steady.
—Marisa McMillan, Outside, 29 Dec. 2025
Reubens, who remained in the closet for much of his life and died in 2023, makes for a cagey, ambivalent subject in Matt Wolf’s posthumous docuseries.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ambivalent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambivalent
Adjective
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According to Aars, much more research is needed to understand how other polar bears are adapting to climate change — and scientists are still unsure whether the polar bears of Svalbard can maintain their reindeer- and walrus-based diet.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
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When unsure, the safest course is to consult your doctor about a booster, which is safe for most adults.—
Jesse Pines,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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There’s an intimacy in their collaboration that allows Coogler to push Jordan into increasingly complex territory — from the tragic Oscar Grant to the conflicted Killmonger to the demanding twins in Sinners.—
Hannah Abraham,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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But the intensity of the reaction to her success reveals how conflicted America remains about women’s power.—
Laurel Elder,
Fortune,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Hundreds of volunteers have packed and delivered grocery boxes to families too afraid to leave their homes.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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People are so afraid to go out and participate in public life regardless of their citizenship status.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Big pharmaceutical companies and major venture capitalists are interested in novel approaches but hesitant.—
Ana Castelain,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
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Perhaps reflecting the stakes, GOP staff and campaign aides were hesitant Monday to talk about the issue at all.—
Bill Barrow,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But even as India retains its growth story amid an increasingly uncertain global economic environment, its weak currency is a cause of concern for the government.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
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Norfolk Southern's quarterly profit slipped 12% amid the uncertain economy as well as unusual costs related to its efforts to merge with Union Pacific in an $85 billion deal that would create a transcontinental railroad.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ambivalent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambivalent. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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