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

Smear certainly finds Ides of March star Clooney, who never hesitates to put his politics and star power to work, and the rest of the cast stepping into some deep, murky and often digital waters. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2026

Deanna hesitates, still wounded by the estrangement, but opens the house again. — Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026

Much of the film plays out in close-up as Alex watches, plays, thinks, hesitates. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026

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