as in unsure
having a mixture of opposing feelings
she's somewhat ambivalent about the relationship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
The family—an ambivalent institution bar none—shapes us, and yet our individuality resists that shaping.
—
Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
Pillsbury was similarly ambivalent about the label.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
Swift said that the album, which has received several glowing reviews as well as numerous ambivalent critiques, has been embraced by the Swiftie fandom.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
Like the operas Li recalled, this moment is characterized by a kind of emotional extravagance that does not permit the ambivalent second thought.
—Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ambivalent
Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
Pillsbury was similarly ambivalent about the label.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
Swift said that the album, which has received several glowing reviews as well as numerous ambivalent critiques, has been embraced by the Swiftie fandom.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
Like the operas Li recalled, this moment is characterized by a kind of emotional extravagance that does not permit the ambivalent second thought.
—Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ambivalent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambivalent
Adjective
-
As Altadena rebuilds, Good Neighbor has, essentially, become a daily support group, where neighbors can find comfort and a sense of permanence when everything else is unsure.—
Esther Tseng,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Many men in the facility, like Chacón, were unsure why they were accused of terrorist activity, the story detailed.—
Tamia Fowlkes,
jsonline.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Instead, the Tigers’ clock management was somewhere between curious and conflicted — and led to a gaffe that changed the trajectory of the game.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Veterinarians occupy a conflicted role in laboratories.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The government hopes for rain, but people are already afraid.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
As a result, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin wasn't afraid to acknowledge just how bad things went for star quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the rest of his team as a whole.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Republicans are hesitant to quit the procedure because Democrats could retake the Senate majority in future elections, and that would give them a bill-passing advantage.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Haro-Ramos co-authored a study published in 2024 that found many Latinos were hesitant to get vaccinated because of fears about their immigration status, and that experiencing health discrimination like care denials or delays increased their vaccine hesitancy.—
Phillip Reese,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
At the moment, its age is still uncertain.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Nov. 2025
-
How Barton will advance his campaigns now is uncertain.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ambivalent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambivalent. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share