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
Shares have remained relatively stable, affected by investor hesitance regarding China’s steel demand and ongoing worries about Brazil's regulatory landscape.
—
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Josh Brolin, who played big brother Brandon Walsh, expressed hesitance about a second movie.
—Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
Probably not, given the company’s strange hesitance to part ways with its current leadership.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 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
See All Example Sentences for hesitance
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Josh Brolin, who played big brother Brandon Walsh, expressed hesitance about a second movie.
—Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
Probably not, given the company’s strange hesitance to part ways with its current leadership.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 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
See All Example Sentences for hesitance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitance
Noun
-
Part of the reason for the decision, Acosta said, was the reluctance of his underage victims to testify.—
Julie K Brown,
Miami Herald,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Trump has suggested the missiles could serve as leverage to bring Putin to the table, but his reluctance mirrors earlier delays in sanctions and aid to Kyiv.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Del Toro’s explanation for this paradox revealed to Isaac that Victor Frankenstein operates without doubt or hesitation—until his catastrophic moment of reckoning.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
17 Oct. 2025
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Tariffs appear to have stabilized, and while brands remain aware of global uncertainties, there’s a clear shift toward action, not hesitation.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
13 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
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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 20 Oct. 2025.
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