as in faltering
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in ambivalent
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hesitating
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Concerns about the economy and tariffs do have some companies hesitating to make long-term decisions, but even with that concern, more are taking on long-term leases than were a year ago, CBRE found.
—Diana Olick, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
As adults, this pattern can look like hesitating to ask for help, avoiding vulnerability or keeping emotional struggles private, even from those closest to you.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Concerns about the economy and tariffs do have some companies hesitating to make long-term decisions, but even with that concern, more are taking on long-term leases than were a year ago, CBRE found.
—Diana Olick, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitating
Verb
-
China's housing downturn has stretched into a fourth year, with prices, sales, investment and construction activity faltering across the board.—
Anniek Bao,Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
25 Aug. 2025
-
Investors’ long-running enthusiasm for artificial intelligence showed signs of faltering late Tuesday and early Wednesday morning as tech stocks tumbled.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Thanks to climate change, Cosmism’s ambivalent and generally hostile attitude towards the natural world should also sound familiar.—
Tim Brinkhof,
Big Think,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Reactions to Breinberg’s victory were respectful and occasionally ambivalent.—
Sarah Larson,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Malcolm was right there waiting for me out by the pool, with three bottles of champagne in a party cooler.—
T. Coraghessan Boyle,
New Yorker,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The Lebanese restaurant was a hit in the neighborhood from the outset and was perpetually packed, with crowds of people waiting for a table.—
Shivani Vora,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Framber Valdez and Cristian Javier have been shaky over the last two months.—
Chris Kirschner,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The riders who stagger off of Stardust Racers have wide, shaky smiles.—
Bianca Bosker,
The Atlantic,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This is the Alcaraz who is unbeatable, a man who cut out the vacillating streaks in his game that derailed him in Melbourne and Wimbledon.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Wendy senses Lizzo’s wavering confidence.—
Allison P. Davis,
Vulture,
8 Sep. 2025
-
That’s particularly true at a time of economic volatility and wavering consumer sentiment.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
3 Sep. 2019
Adjective
-
The agreement says Campbell’s campaign was selected for audit at a random drawing in 2023.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The second verse is no less random, with lyrics about moonwalking on a UFO, dropping bars while brushing teeth and a shout out to legendary 2001 blaxploitation-adjacent comedy Pootie Tang.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Ari is aimless and has made the executive decision to wean himself off his antidepressants; Sam is tortured by the prospect of going straight from college into a boring and unfulfilling career at Morgan Stanley.—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Liam, once aimless and unhoused, quickly finds purpose in the charade as a husband and father.—
Sam Bodrojan,
IndieWire,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hesitating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitating. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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