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
Silicon Valley has been too ambivalent about American power for the first quarter of this century.
—
Editorial Board, Washington Post, 4 May 2026
Even for those ambivalent to the races, the Mansion is prized for its privacy and extravagance.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2026
But these unknown early writings suggest that he may be better understood as an immigrant writer—one of the gifted, ambivalent outsiders who remade American literature after World War II—whose most astonishing achievement was the all-American voice of On the Road and the books that came after.
—Literary Hub, 24 Apr. 2026
The book’s ambivalent nostalgia has not kept it from succeeding prodigiously.
—Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ambivalent
Editorial Board, Washington Post, 4 May 2026
Even for those ambivalent to the races, the Mansion is prized for its privacy and extravagance.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2026
But these unknown early writings suggest that he may be better understood as an immigrant writer—one of the gifted, ambivalent outsiders who remade American literature after World War II—whose most astonishing achievement was the all-American voice of On the Road and the books that came after.
—Literary Hub, 24 Apr. 2026
The book’s ambivalent nostalgia has not kept it from succeeding prodigiously.
—Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ambivalent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambivalent
Adjective
-
Eagle Rock was unsure what this season would bring.—
Justin Vigil Zuniga,
Daily News,
28 May 2026
-
Many simply felt unsure about what to click next.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
Her brother Hanna was more conflicted.—
Euan Ward,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
-
Yet as with so much that starts as sincere human-to-human connection online, the higher the stakes, the more conflicted the influencer’s role became.—
David S. Bennahum,
Fortune,
24 May 2026
Adjective
-
Unlike the coolly impassive Pop artists, the Who weren’t afraid to get personal, or to let their art echo the anxious, kinky, maladjusted yammering in their own heads.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
Meanwhile, aggressive immigration enforcement has made some people afraid to seek care at all, worsening public health outcomes.—
Daniela Flores,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
That means discussing communicable diseases — like many populations, the Amish, many of whom do vaccinate, have been increasingly hesitant since the Covid-19 pandemic — as well as genetic and other conditions.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
3 June 2026
-
Even with the changes, some council members were hesitant to support the plan.—
Kendrick Calfee
June 3,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
In no uncertain terms, the absence of those issues is bewildering, erodes the entire report’s credibility, and demands an explanation.—
Douglas Schoen,
Oc Register,
28 May 2026
-
Rumbello explains that while more people are actively seeking alternatives to pharmaceuticals, many remain uncertain about which solutions are credible.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ambivalent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambivalent. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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