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
After a little practice breathing through the tube and getting past her initial hesitance, Jenner puts her face into the water, and comes back up immediately, her hair stuck to her skin.
—
Marci Robin, Allure, 14 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for hesitance
Marci Robin, Allure, 14 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for hesitance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitance
Noun
-
The one tiny potential upside of the populist movement was its apparent reluctance to plunge the nation into foreign debacles.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Kline was frustrated and even infuriated by the military's past reluctance.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
After missing his two previous attempts only seconds earlier, Dixon returned to the free-throw line without any hesitation.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
-
In an environment dictated by speed and automation, the space for hesitation, dissent, or moral restraint may be shrinking just as quickly.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Finally, Jim said that our hesitancy to sell is due to fear that the company will figure out how to solve its AI woes.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
10 Mar. 2026
-
That hesitancy has never fully disappeared.—
Ken Toltz,
Denver Post,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As the road flows into Missouri, plan a leg-stretching pause at Meramec Caverns in the leafy Ozarks.—
Zoey Goto,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Denver’s mayor has already instituted a similar pause.—
Eric Schmidt,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hesitance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitance. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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