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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hesitance
Probably not, given the company’s strange hesitance to part ways with its current leadership.
—
Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
Hawley clearly didn’t feel the same level of hesitance regarding comparisons between Alien: Earth and Ridley Scott’s Alien.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025
Their hesitance comes in the wake of executive orders targeting some of the country’s most powerful law firms, which have split between fighting the orders and compliance agreements.
—Lluvia Gaucin, IndyStar, 26 Aug. 2025
Damar Hamlin’s hesitance in coverage again showed why the Bills are looking at him as more of a backup role, but now their other depth safety options in Hancock and Lewis are injured.
—Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitance
Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
Hawley clearly didn’t feel the same level of hesitance regarding comparisons between Alien: Earth and Ridley Scott’s Alien.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025
Their hesitance comes in the wake of executive orders targeting some of the country’s most powerful law firms, which have split between fighting the orders and compliance agreements.
—Lluvia Gaucin, IndyStar, 26 Aug. 2025
Damar Hamlin’s hesitance in coverage again showed why the Bills are looking at him as more of a backup role, but now their other depth safety options in Hancock and Lewis are injured.
—Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitance
Noun
-
Petropoulous said ship financing has always been a difficult area to assess, given the reluctance of leasing providers and ship owners to publish the information.—
Lori Ann LaRocco,
CNBC,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Polaco expressed his reluctance to ask for assistance but detailed his difficult situation.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The arc of Fatal Optimist and Diaz’s perceptive, insistent songwriting make that movement, even with its hesitation, feel like a victory.—
Maura Johnston,
Rolling Stone,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The bear was now 35 yards away and showing no hesitation in her charge.—
Marguerite Reiss,
Outdoor Life,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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His grandfather, Leroy Hanlon, frustrated by this hesitancy, snatches the instrument out of Mike’s hand and carries out the deed himself.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Oct. 2025
-
That hesitancy is echoed by some analysts, who said the concept currently lacked clarity.—
Freddie Clayton,
NBC news,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The American president was in his element, often departing from prepared remarks in an address that extended for an hour in front of a crowd that was more than happy to applaud at every pause.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
13 Oct. 2025
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Sometimes, a long pause in stalking behavior is a tactic designed to create more fear by allowing the victim to drop their guard before restarting the behavior, said Aims Babich, director of survivor services at SafeHouse Denver, an emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hesitance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitance. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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