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
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
Chatter in the market revolved around the reasons for the downturn – rising competition from streaming platforms, consumer belt-tightening and hesitance on the part of investors and studios – as well as possible solutions.
—Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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
Chatter in the market revolved around the reasons for the downturn – rising competition from streaming platforms, consumer belt-tightening and hesitance on the part of investors and studios – as well as possible solutions.
—Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitance
Noun
-
Stakeholders argued that the problem is not simply insurer reluctance, but a structural mismatch between how insurance functions and how rebuilding actually happens.—
Michelle Edgar,
Daily News,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The problem from the Justice Department side is that a reluctance to name people with criminal allegations unless charges have been filed.—
Zulekha Nathoo,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That might give some teams some hesitation.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
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The same force that’s fueled the tech sector’s explosive gains over the past two years is now driving investor hesitation.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Jackson also participated in COVID-19 vaccination drives to battle hesitancy in Black communities.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
17 Feb. 2026
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And every one of us has moments of hiding, fear, doubt, and hesitancy.—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There's been a pause on issuing them ever since.—
Jeff Wagner,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
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The Wild entered the NHL’s three-week Olympic break on a heater, going 8-1-1 in their final 10 games before the pause.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hesitance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitance. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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