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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hesitance
This is partly a reflection of the collapse of studio interest in newsy documentaries as well as hesitance around a movie that condemns Israeli policies.
—
Marc Tracy, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
Some Republican lawmakers have expressed hesitance to focus on a DOGE dividend rather than lowering the national deficit or expanding tax cuts, according to Forbes.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 12 Mar. 2025
Seeing the toll these illnesses can have on patients, some countries experience less hesitance with vaccination than the US does, according to experts.
—Neha Mukherjee, CNN, 3 Mar. 2025
Convinced that her lover’s health was a gift for their sacrifice, Tai regresses to their wilderness cult ways, taking Van along for the ride despite her hesitance.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitance
Marc Tracy, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
Some Republican lawmakers have expressed hesitance to focus on a DOGE dividend rather than lowering the national deficit or expanding tax cuts, according to Forbes.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 12 Mar. 2025
Seeing the toll these illnesses can have on patients, some countries experience less hesitance with vaccination than the US does, according to experts.
—Neha Mukherjee, CNN, 3 Mar. 2025
Convinced that her lover’s health was a gift for their sacrifice, Tai regresses to their wilderness cult ways, taking Van along for the ride despite her hesitance.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitance
Noun
-
Indeed, behind all of this is the administration's reluctance to support Ukraine, which allies might see as applying to themselves, and China might see as applying to Taiwan.—
Matt Robison,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Apr. 2025
-
Women’s reluctance to compete has been well-documented.—
Kim Elsesser,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The source of hesitation is President Trump’s latest tariffs, which, as announced earlier this month, included a 46% tax on imports from Vietnam, the country’s eighth-largest trading partner.—
Stephanie Yang,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2025
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Studies show that financial trauma can lead to avoidance behaviors, chronic underinvestment, and hesitation in wealth-building strategies even among women who appear financially stable on paper.—
Alejandra Rojas,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Despite the air of hesitancy partially clouding the results, the project strikes a hopeful chord for wildlife conservation.—
Jack Knudson,
Discover Magazine,
8 Apr. 2025
-
At least one legislator expressed hesitancy during a Senate committee vote Wednesday about the legislation’s expansive footprint.—
Christine Condon,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Mar. 2025
Noun
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This marks the end of a yearslong pause that began at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Apr. 2025
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Schedule pauses, reflection time or even walks to reset your mind.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hesitance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitance. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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