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
Some supporters of the Wide Awakes’ rebirth have expressed hesitance about its aesthetics, especially the optics of torch-wielding vigilantes marching through the streets.
—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Apr. 2026
Shares of McCormick fell 6% in morning trading, while Unilever's stock down 4%, reflecting investors' hesitance about the mega-merger.
—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
That likely means there won’t be any hesitance by Stammen to use his higher-leverage relievers today and tomorrow.
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Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
That the Astros even added Vázquez underscores their hesitance to hand César Salazar the backup role, despite Salazar’s familiarity with their pitching staff and strong clubhouse reputation.
—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hesitance
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Apr. 2026
Shares of McCormick fell 6% in morning trading, while Unilever's stock down 4%, reflecting investors' hesitance about the mega-merger.
—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
That likely means there won’t be any hesitance by Stammen to use his higher-leverage relievers today and tomorrow.
—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
That the Astros even added Vázquez underscores their hesitance to hand César Salazar the backup role, despite Salazar’s familiarity with their pitching staff and strong clubhouse reputation.
—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hesitance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitance
Noun
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Haiti’s business community has long been criticized for monopolistic practices and a reluctance to collaborate.
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The reluctance to discuss one's own death, which already sits at the root of many inheritance failures, runs even deeper with digital holdings.
Noun
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What drives the hesitation is rarely bad code.
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At the center of KeyBanc’s hesitation is Starship, the giant reusable rocket that Musk, the CEO, has described as critical to the future of satellite deployment, deep-space exploration and, eventually, colonization of Mars.
Noun
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Part of it is a hesitancy to trade veterans on expiring contracts (prior to this season’s trades with Buffalo) to get picks back.
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Another common problem for leaders is dealing with the pressure to innovate or the hesitancy to invest from the board.
Noun
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That pause is the whole story for anyone who holds an insurance policy, because some of the rules in the firing line decide how the algorithms that price your cover are allowed to behave.
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If someone urges you to splurge, smile, breathe, and pause.
Cite this Entry
“Hesitance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitance. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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