Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Thesaurus

hesitation

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of hesitation

a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action
  • Because of one moment's hesitation, I missed getting the picture of the elusive butterfly.
Synonyms of hesitation

faltering, fence-sitting, hesitance, hesitancy, indecision, irresolution, pause, shilly-shally, shilly-shallying, vacillation, wavering, wobbling (also wabbling)
Words Related to hesitation

delay, hawing, procrastination, waiting

misgiving, second thought

consideration, debate, deliberation, doubt, incertitude, indecisiveness, indetermination, uncertainness, uncertainty

avoidance, equivocation

aversion, disinclination, indisposition, reluctance, unwillingness

faintheartedness, shyness, timidity, timidness
Near Antonyms of hesitation

certainty, certitude, confidence, decisiveness, determination, firmness, resoluteness, resolution, sureness

alacrity, eagerness, readiness

Learn More about hesitation

  1. See words that rhyme with hesitation Dictionary: Definition of hesitation Spanish Central: Translation of hesitation Nglish: Translation of hesitation for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of hesitation for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up hesitation? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

slew

play

a large number

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. symbiote 'an organism living in symbiosis'

  2. charlatan 'faker or fraud'

  3. lowlife 'a person of low moral character'

  4. kakistocracy 'government by the worst people'

  5. slimeball 'a morally repulsive or odious person'

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

image278155226
All the Hits

8 obscure words for bodily harm

alt-5adf93a49b0b2
The Fossil Encased in "Case In Point"

"In point" only lives in this phrase.

alt-5adf5d017e6bf
‘Sleight’ or ‘Slight’ of Hand?

Watch closely and be amazed.

alt-5ade0f1ca7a0c
'Complement' vs. 'Compliment'

The distinction is clear (now).

Ask the Editors

image1760257654
2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

video-literally
Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

video-his-or-her
Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

image1926873504
Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Test your knowledge of strange human behaviors.

Take the quiz
cats-on-impossible-timber
More Confusing Words—Quiz

How many of these commonly confused words do you know?

Take the quiz
Name That Thing
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

Take the quiz
Dictionary Devil
Dictionary Devil

The dictionary has been scrambled—can you put it back together?

Play the game