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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hesitation
Any fruit with visible larvae, broken skin, or soft, mushy spots should be discarded without hesitation.
—
Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 13 May 2026
Substance grows through motion today, not hesitation.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 May 2026
The emotional fog begins to lift while feelings of hesitation fade away.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
No briefings, no hesitation; just pure pixelated patriotism.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hesitation
Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 13 May 2026
Substance grows through motion today, not hesitation.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 May 2026
The emotional fog begins to lift while feelings of hesitation fade away.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
No briefings, no hesitation; just pure pixelated patriotism.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hesitation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitation
Noun
-
The decline in vitamin K uptake is still believed to be related to vaccine and medicine hesitancy, according to both the JAMA study and ProPublica investigation.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
This hesitancy and worry about speaking up is the way free speech dies.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
After a pause for the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, social hesitance was still evident and masks were incorporated into some of the night's designs.—
Luis Giraldo,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
-
Sensing hesitance as well as incompetence, coaches and players alike tried to sway the flailing fill-ins at every turn.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Chapman ended up getting turned around and tagged out, but his pause allowed Devers to score.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
9 May 2026
-
Bass, after a brief pause, also said yes.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
Heidi Vonblum, the city’s planning director, said the delay will allow the city to help neighborhoods that have suffered from past city zoning practices, including zoning based on race or ethnicity.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
Gas prices, which tend to follow moves in oil with a delay, were slightly higher on May 7.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hesitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitation. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
