as in ambivalent
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Dissimilar Words
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hesitating
Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 27 Jan. 2026
Although police still can use less-lethal weapons to contain unruly demonstrators, the city claimed the rules put officers at risk of hesitating in chaotic situations.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
Survey respondents shared multiple ways that unemployment can have a negative impact including cancelling dates for financial reasons and hesitating to even ask someone out at all.
—Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 13 Jan. 2026
Despite unified denouncements of antisemitism, Fetterman criticized colleagues for hesitating to fully confront anti-Israel hostility.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
In the viral clip on Instagram, Pearl was hesitating on the edge of the bed before eventually figuring out how to climb up.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Nov. 2025
The Nuggets became prone to operating with one-dimensional caution, hesitating to shoot open 3s, immediately looking to return the ball to Jokic in the post and subsequently telegraphing entry passes.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025
Chamandy said that, because of the ambiguity associated with the tariffs, companies are still hesitating to change suppliers until the dust settles.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 3 Nov. 2025
For now, Ian’s hesitating to tell Mike.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
The appeals court, however, said staying the injunction serves the public interest by preventing federal agents from hesitating while carrying out lawful duties.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 27 Jan. 2026
Although police still can use less-lethal weapons to contain unruly demonstrators, the city claimed the rules put officers at risk of hesitating in chaotic situations.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
Survey respondents shared multiple ways that unemployment can have a negative impact including cancelling dates for financial reasons and hesitating to even ask someone out at all.
—Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 13 Jan. 2026
Despite unified denouncements of antisemitism, Fetterman criticized colleagues for hesitating to fully confront anti-Israel hostility.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
In the viral clip on Instagram, Pearl was hesitating on the edge of the bed before eventually figuring out how to climb up.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Nov. 2025
The Nuggets became prone to operating with one-dimensional caution, hesitating to shoot open 3s, immediately looking to return the ball to Jokic in the post and subsequently telegraphing entry passes.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025
Chamandy said that, because of the ambiguity associated with the tariffs, companies are still hesitating to change suppliers until the dust settles.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 3 Nov. 2025
For now, Ian’s hesitating to tell Mike.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitating
Adjective
-
Humans have an ambivalent relationship with raccoons.—
Kelly Lambert,
Fortune,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Neither pet nor pest Humans have an ambivalent relationship with raccoons.—
Kelly Lambert,
The Conversation,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Darnold has also found some big-game redemption after faltering for the Minnesota Vikings late in the season last year.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
18 Jan. 2026
-
And his retribution campaign—faltering to this point, to be sure—targeted the chairman of the Federal Reserve, who is now the subject of a Justice Department investigation.—
Jonathan Lemire,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
According to a 2025 market analysis conducted by OfferUp, a mobile marketplace app, 69% of shoppers turn to secondhand when the economy gets shaky.—
Mari Sato The Dallas Morning News,
Arkansas Online,
1 Feb. 2026
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The nerves that Landfair had been suppressing only show as the interview winds down, letting out a relieved and shaky breath after answering the last question.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That’s bad news for hundreds of middling private equity firms waiting for a lifeboat that may never come.—
Hank Tucker,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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But others waiting appeared to burn with the indignation of an era in US-Cuban relations that until recently had been relegated to the history books.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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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
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In his new role, Jejurikar will be tasked with driving sales performance amid a wavering global market.—
Vogue Business Team,
Vogue,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Stocco said in a wavering voice.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Police have started planning for next year’s New Year’s events, including traffic control and celebratory random gunfire, Comeaux said.—
Timia Cobb
Breaking News Reporter,
Dallas Morning News,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Powering through the memory shortage Memory costs — primarily referring to DRAM, or dynamic random access memory used for temporary, short-term semiconductor memory and NAND used for long-term storage — have soared over the past year due to rising compute needs from AI data centers.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Only 28 per cent of Newcastle’s first-half attacks came down the middle, with Villa forcing the hosts into wide areas and, aside from one Lewis Miley header that drew an exceptional save from Martinez, mostly aimless crosses.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
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Over the subsequent stories, Goodman crafts subtle investigations of the relations between siblings, the fine blend of anxiety and pride parents feel for their offspring, and the bemused affection an aunt or uncle might feel for their aimless nieces or haphazard nephews.—
Chloe Schama,
Vogue,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hesitating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitating. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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