1
as in reluctance
a lack of willingness or desire to do or accept something
sales figures for the month were up, as consumers began to overcome their hesitance about purchasing big-ticket items
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hesitation
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action
she mistook my hesitance to mean I didn't like her poem, but I was trying to come up with appropriate words of praise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hesitance
After a little practice breathing through the tube and getting past her initial hesitance, Jenner puts her face into the water, and comes back up immediately, her hair stuck to her skin.
—
Marci Robin, Allure, 14 Jan. 2026
Citing Chinese academic research, the report notes that financial and time pressures, especially the cost and burden of child care, are major factors contributing to families’ hesitance.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
The judge continued to echo his hesitance following the reveal and shared an Instagram Stories post posing the question for fans.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Trump has taken distinct interest in influencing the Fed, repeatedly criticizing Chair Jerome Powell over his hesitance to back lowering interest rates.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitance
Marci Robin, Allure, 14 Jan. 2026
Citing Chinese academic research, the report notes that financial and time pressures, especially the cost and burden of child care, are major factors contributing to families’ hesitance.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
The judge continued to echo his hesitance following the reveal and shared an Instagram Stories post posing the question for fans.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Trump has taken distinct interest in influencing the Fed, repeatedly criticizing Chair Jerome Powell over his hesitance to back lowering interest rates.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitance
Noun
-
Such reluctance may intensify if the war drags on and weighs on consumer confidence and spending.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Honeycutt's reluctance to put a hard number on the Artemis 2 risk therefore makes a lot of sense.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Pittenger noted the hesitation from others made sense.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Several people began pushing the fish back toward the ocean — but not without some initial hesitation.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Finally, Jim said that our hesitancy to sell is due to fear that the company will figure out how to solve its AI woes.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
10 Mar. 2026
-
That hesitancy has never fully disappeared.—
Ken Toltz,
Denver Post,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
My mother took only the slightest pause.—
Han Ong,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
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Last week, Borough President Vanessa Gibson said the multi-day event had been put on pause this year to the budget deficit.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hesitance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitance. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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