Synonyms of hesitates

hesitates

verb

present tense third-person singular of hesitate

as in falters

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• falters
• waits
• pauses
• vacillates
• dithers
• wavers
• staggers
• halts
• debates
• scruples
• hangs back
• sways
• wobbles
• ponders
• teeters
• balances
• lingers
• procrastinates
• dawdles
• deliberates
• delays
• weighs
• haws
• shilly-shallies
• considers
• equivocates
• oscillates
• hems
• chickens (out)
• dallies
• backs down
• hedges
• waffles
• pussyfoots

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decides
• dives (in)
• plunges (in)
• continues
• stirs
• advances
• budges

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hesitates

If an employee hesitates or overcommits, avoid making assumptions or asking defensive questions. — Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Your vehicle hesitates when shifting gears A short pause or delay between pressing the gas and your car responding is an early sign of transmission trouble. — Michael Kurko, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026

If someone hesitates, gently restate the goal and offer one reasonable option while staying loyal to your own needs. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2026

In Spearfish, Yu hesitates over a set of cow grates and dumps her bike at low velocity. — Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026

Hassan hesitates over an undercooked backpass, Haaland smells blood, and Iraq are toast. — Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 24 June 2026

And yet, even after years of success in other projects like Scooby-Doo, Scream 2, and Cruel Intentions, Gellar still hesitates when splurging on expensive items. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 June 2026

Passengers swear and cry in multiple languages; at Gracie Mansion, an unpopular mayor hesitates to address the public for fear of being booed. — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 22 June 2026

If someone hesitates, keep spirits up and adjust the route without losing the goal, then genuinely celebrate small wins. — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 15 June 2026