as in faltered
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
I didn't hesitate to tell them that what they were doing was wrong and that I wanted no part of it
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Recent Examples of hesitated
Shaking in his seat, Dobby initially hesitated to comment on the subject, but then segment anchor Michael Che offered him some encouragement.
—
Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025
The director hesitated to watch the film at the Cannes Classics showing.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025
The international community has not hesitated to recognize genocide in other contexts.
—Faisal Kutty, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
Democrats who come off poorly in it have not hesitated to disagree with her.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Hackers might have hesitated in the past to intentionally disrupt the systems that underpin American society, fearing retaliation or escalation.
—Jenna McLaughlin, NPR, 20 Sep. 2025
But initially, even the K-Pop industry hesitated.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
And because Vrabel has not hesitated to part with players better than White, the buy-in better be there.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
Healthcare hesitated with diagnostic AI until error rates dropped and clinicians saw the benefit.
—Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025
The director hesitated to watch the film at the Cannes Classics showing.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025
The international community has not hesitated to recognize genocide in other contexts.
—Faisal Kutty, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
Democrats who come off poorly in it have not hesitated to disagree with her.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Hackers might have hesitated in the past to intentionally disrupt the systems that underpin American society, fearing retaliation or escalation.
—Jenna McLaughlin, NPR, 20 Sep. 2025
But initially, even the K-Pop industry hesitated.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
And because Vrabel has not hesitated to part with players better than White, the buy-in better be there.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
Healthcare hesitated with diagnostic AI until error rates dropped and clinicians saw the benefit.
—Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitated
Verb
-
Like last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Hurts had a hot start and then faltered in the second half.—
Ted Nguyen,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Although both players were made to save break points early on in the deciding set, Nosková faltered first as Anisimova took a 4-2 lead, cutting down on the unforced errors that were her downfall in the second.—
Frank Nunns O'Connell,
CNN Money,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
According to videos, officers waited roughly 20 seconds before detaining people.—
Quinlan Bentley,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
2 Oct. 2025
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The suit was actually dismissed in 2022 after Olguin ruled that Elden had waited too long to file a civil suit.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hesitated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitated. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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