1
as in reluctance
a lack of willingness or desire to do or accept something
his appointment to the superintendency was confirmed by the school board without the least hesitancy
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
his hesitancy in pulling over into the next lane while he had a chance resulted in him missing his exit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hesitancy
And every one of us has moments of hiding, fear, doubt, and hesitancy.
—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2026
Medical experts and public health leaders say overcoming hesitancy is key in preventing further spread in and around Charlotte, and preventing the rise of other infectious diseases.
—Charlotte Observer, 10 Feb. 2026
Noting her hesitancy, Benedict’s character in the book guesses that Sophie is illegitimate.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 30 Jan. 2026
While its leaders and boosters usually have no problem making a number of outrageous, sci-fi sounding projections of where things are headed, there’s much more hesitancy over the possibility that AI is aware of its own existence.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hesitancy
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2026
Medical experts and public health leaders say overcoming hesitancy is key in preventing further spread in and around Charlotte, and preventing the rise of other infectious diseases.
—Charlotte Observer, 10 Feb. 2026
Noting her hesitancy, Benedict’s character in the book guesses that Sophie is illegitimate.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 30 Jan. 2026
While its leaders and boosters usually have no problem making a number of outrageous, sci-fi sounding projections of where things are headed, there’s much more hesitancy over the possibility that AI is aware of its own existence.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hesitancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitancy
Noun
-
Such reluctance may intensify if the war drags on and weighs on consumer confidence and spending.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Honeycutt's reluctance to put a hard number on the Artemis 2 risk therefore makes a lot of sense.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Pittenger noted the hesitation from others made sense.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
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Several people began pushing the fish back toward the ocean — but not without some initial hesitation.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Analysts have noted Mojtaba's lack of adequate religious credentials and hesitance within the regime to oversee a dynastic succession as marks against his candidacy to be the next supreme leader.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
8 Mar. 2026
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Her only hesitance was how much the internet has changed culture in the past decade.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
My mother took only the slightest pause.—
Han Ong,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
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Last week, Borough President Vanessa Gibson said the multi-day event had been put on pause this year to the budget deficit.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hesitancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitancy. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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