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
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Recent Examples of hesitates
If a gatekeeper hesitates, breathe and restate your win.
—
Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2026
In the finale, Nicky hesitates at the altar, leading Rachel to question their relationship.
—Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Nicky hesitates at the altar, leading Rachel to question their relationship.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
How the Finale Changes Everything Nicky hesitates at the altar, sending Rachel spiraling.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 3 Apr. 2026
Indeed, when a mother is afraid to take her child to the hospital, when a worker hesitates to report abuse, when a victim of violence stays silent, our entire society suffers.
—Peter Cook, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
After Rachel and Nicky reach the altar, Nicky hesitates.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Mar. 2026
Though Pollan hesitates to claim that a fundamental aspect of human capability and human experience remains beyond science’s reach, A World Appears closely maps out such a territory.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 11 Mar. 2026
When pressed on what a new economic system for the age of AGI might look like, Hunter-Torricke hesitates.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2026
In the finale, Nicky hesitates at the altar, leading Rachel to question their relationship.
—Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Nicky hesitates at the altar, leading Rachel to question their relationship.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
How the Finale Changes Everything Nicky hesitates at the altar, sending Rachel spiraling.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 3 Apr. 2026
Indeed, when a mother is afraid to take her child to the hospital, when a worker hesitates to report abuse, when a victim of violence stays silent, our entire society suffers.
—Peter Cook, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
After Rachel and Nicky reach the altar, Nicky hesitates.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Mar. 2026
Though Pollan hesitates to claim that a fundamental aspect of human capability and human experience remains beyond science’s reach, A World Appears closely maps out such a territory.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 11 Mar. 2026
When pressed on what a new economic system for the age of AGI might look like, Hunter-Torricke hesitates.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitates
Verb
-
If a birth cohort hits what normally would be their high-earning years just as an economy booms, as the baby boomers did, their lifetime earnings will be far higher than a cohort reaching those ages just as the economy falters or goes into severe recession.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
26 Apr. 2026
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But even if Ohtani falters against the Giants, who rank near the bottom of the league in runs scored per game, that will not be a death knell to his candidacy.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
8 May 2026
-
Stocks fell from their records Thursday after oil prices yo-yoed as Wall Street waits to see whether its hopes for a deal to end the Iran war are warranted or just wishful.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hesitates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitates. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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