as in hesitancy
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action
one moment's hesitation on my part, and the elusive butterfly was lost to me forever
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Recent Examples of hesitation
My only hesitation in saying yes to eight years is that the player might be wise to see how high the salary cap goes — and where his game goes — before locking in long-term after his first full season.
—
Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 18 June 2025
Greg Cox with Compass said that in the $1 million or more market, May’s 5% sales volume dip in that category showed continued buyer hesitation.
—Sara B. Hansen, Denver Post, 13 June 2025
The court also rejected the notion that Lively’s conduct — including her hesitation to promote the film and her insistence on workplace protections — amounted to extortion or breach.
—Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
Most purchases aren’t made through a purely logical process but are influenced by how customers feel in the moment—whether a price excites them, creates hesitation or triggers an impulse buy.
—Anton Timashev, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitation
Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 18 June 2025
Greg Cox with Compass said that in the $1 million or more market, May’s 5% sales volume dip in that category showed continued buyer hesitation.
—Sara B. Hansen, Denver Post, 13 June 2025
The court also rejected the notion that Lively’s conduct — including her hesitation to promote the film and her insistence on workplace protections — amounted to extortion or breach.
—Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
Most purchases aren’t made through a purely logical process but are influenced by how customers feel in the moment—whether a price excites them, creates hesitation or triggers an impulse buy.
—Anton Timashev, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitation
Noun
-
This public mandate for bold climate action stands in sharp contrast to the political hesitancy now on display.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
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While the #MeToo movement has set the stage for French society to listen when survivors of abuse come forward, there is still some hesitancy within families to accept what happened at Bétharram.—
Colette Davidson,
Christian Science Monitor,
13 May 2025
Noun
-
Several major automakers are investing billions of dollars into American EV production despite the U.S. hesitance to adopt EVs.—
Charles Singh,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
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Despite hesitance from some Republican senators, all of Trump’s nominees who have come for a vote on the floor have been confirmed, even his most contentious picks.—
Elizabeth Crisp,
The Hill,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Republican leaders and tech industry groups have argued that a multiyear pause on state-level AI regulation is essential to giving U.S. companies the space to innovate and maintain an edge over China.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
1 July 2025
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California’s largest public sector union secured a one-year pause to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s return-to-office order just days before state workers are expected to begin working in person four days a week.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
The Trump budget cuts now mean Europe may have to go it alone, possibly facing further delays.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
30 June 2025
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The Defense Intelligence Agency concluded in a low-confidence initial assessment that the strikes caused only limited delays to Iran's nuclear program and failed to destroy key underground sites.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hesitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitation. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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