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 That song features a special guest, credited under the pseudonym Son-John Johnson, who sure sounds a lot like Geese’s Cameron Winter — another indie singer-songwriter who often seems ambivalent about being put under the microscope of fame. — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026 People feel ambivalent about scrolling feeds, Marika Lüders, a professor of media and communication at the University of Oslo, wrote to me on this point. — Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026 Agazero’s new take on the genre retains a similarly ambivalent attitude toward the dancefloor. — Amanda Cavalcanti, Pitchfork, 31 July 2026 Overall, watching my previously ambivalent friends and family members really gain a new appreciation for this sport during this World Cup. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ambivalent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambivalent
  1. unsure
  2. conflicted
  3. afraid
  4. hesitant
  5. uncertain
Adjective
  • Researchers are also still unsure which spacecraft burn up completely and how many fragments may reach the ground, putting lives and property at risk.
    — Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Police and lifeguards were unsure as to the most recent jumping fatality, with one official pointing to the 2019 death of 15-year-old Anthony Womack, a National City resident.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of unsure
Adjective
  • There were respected former Metro homicide detectives Brent Becker and Dan Long, both gone gray, who had carried the burden of the unsolved murder, one riddled with conflicted characters on all sides.
    — John L. Smith, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026
  • What Assange wanted was not a system hardened against attacks, but one tied in knots, hopelessly conflicted and filled with suspicion, denunciations, and purges.
    — Finn Brunton, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of conflicted
Adjective
  • The Florida International University senior struggled to attend classes and stopped driving – afraid something bad would happen.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The 6-foot-6, 238-pounder is basically a gigantic receiver who isn’t afraid to put his hand in the dirt and block.
    — Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of afraid
Adjective
  • The domestic Rita is frazzled, hesitant, unsure of her place in the world.
    — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The survey was hesitant to fully endorse the use of GLP-1 anti-obesity medications for healthy aging.
    — Vince Basada, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of hesitant
Adjective
  • The night before that game, over dinner with Umaga, Nonu had been uncertain over whether to do it, not wanting the occasion to be about him.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • When that doesn’t work, Vicki yanks off her mic and retreats to her bedroom, leaving the others uncertain of what to do next.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 11 Sep. 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 14 Sep. 2026.

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