as in unsure
having a mixture of opposing feelings
she's somewhat ambivalent about the relationship
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 ambivalent
Rasoulof seems ambivalent about the generational conflict between these dark-eyed, handsome people.
—
Armond White, National Review, 22 Jan. 2025
The president-elect’s allies appear similarly ambivalent.
—Oren Cass, Foreign Affairs, 16 Jan. 2025
For years, town officials have had an ambivalent relationship with cyclists and biking safety.
—Daniel Borenstein, The Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2025
Likewise, designer Willy Chavarria had an ambivalent relationship to sport.
—Maya Singer, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ambivalent 
Armond White, National Review, 22 Jan. 2025
The president-elect’s allies appear similarly ambivalent.
—Oren Cass, Foreign Affairs, 16 Jan. 2025
For years, town officials have had an ambivalent relationship with cyclists and biking safety.
—Daniel Borenstein, The Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2025
Likewise, designer Willy Chavarria had an ambivalent relationship to sport.
—Maya Singer, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ambivalent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambivalent
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, police are unsure if the attacker acted on his own and are searching for other potential suspects.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
15 Feb. 2025
-
The Trump of the first half of the movie might surprise viewers used to the 2025 version: an outer-borough scion, ambitious but unsure, who bristles under his despotic father, aspires to greater recognition and bets big on the revival of Midtown Manhattan during its 1970s nadir.—
Marc Tracy,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Some of our other characters are in conflicted positions and having to make really difficult choices.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
7 Feb. 2025
-
There’s some ambiguity about this, as Russia has always had a conflicted relationship with the West.—
Rich Lowry,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
In his four years in charge of the Mavericks, Harrison hasn’t been afraid to take big swings.—
C. Clark, M. Vorkunov and F. Katz,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
-
Their jewelry speaks to women who aren’t afraid to express their individuality.—
Sandra Salibian,
WWD,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Backyard Sports has never featured loot boxes or microtransactions, and locking a character like Pablo Sanchez behind an additional paywall would spark a fan revolt, causing parents to be hesitant to support the games.—
Jake Lang,
Rolling Stone,
7 Feb. 2025
-
Ekstrom is hesitant to quote a grams-per-square-meter figure out of concern that customers may simply compare that number to heavier alternatives, and come away with the mistaken impression that other boots will be warmer.—
Wes Siler,
Outside Online,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
However, dissolving the DoE would require congressional approval, which remains uncertain.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
-
Reporting meant hours of conversation in the car; room for asking the same questions over and over; the gradual diminishment of one’s embarrassment about being ignorant or uncertain; a dilatory attitude of quiet listening and watching; the possibility of misunderstandings resolved.—
Joshua Rothman,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near ambivalent
Cite this Entry
“Ambivalent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambivalent. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share