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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hesitation
Jake became Sai without hesitation.
—
Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Nerves, doubt, and hesitation are normal and expected at this point in the process.
—Jonathan Carone, Parents, 28 May 2026
Related Stories Speaking with Variety on Zoom from her apartment in New York City, Moafi shuts it down without hesitation.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 27 May 2026
Did Moss have any hesitations returning as June, and will June factor as much in the story for season two?
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hesitation
Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Nerves, doubt, and hesitation are normal and expected at this point in the process.
—Jonathan Carone, Parents, 28 May 2026
Related Stories Speaking with Variety on Zoom from her apartment in New York City, Moafi shuts it down without hesitation.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 27 May 2026
Did Moss have any hesitations returning as June, and will June factor as much in the story for season two?
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hesitation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitation
Noun
-
His hesitancy could undermine one of DeSantis’ key arguments to sway voters, particularly those in small counties, in favor of the amendment.—
Romy Ellenbogen Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 June 2026
-
Smith shared, citing his and Henson’s lack of a traditional film or music training as a reason for the hesitancy.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Others, like Choi, believe that knowledge gaps are to blame for donor hesitance to get involved.—
Angelica Ang,
Fortune,
25 May 2026
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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
Noun
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After a brief pause in the fourth inning, Will Smith led off the fifth inning with the Dodgers’ fourth homer of the night.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
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Eastern Ukraine — There is a whirr, a flurry of dust, a pause as the grainy image recalibrates, and then a devastating blast.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Sanfilippo is a fatal pediatric neurodegenerative disorder, with each delay in treatment equaling permanent neurological decline.—
Elise Esposito,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
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Artemis program Due to the Mark 1 issues outlined above, there will either be significant delays to, or the need to restructure the early phases of, the Moon Base program.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hesitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitation. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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