1
as in reluctance
a lack of willingness or desire to do or accept something
sales figures for the month were up, as consumers began to overcome their hesitance about purchasing big-ticket items
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hesitation
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action
she mistook my hesitance to mean I didn't like her poem, but I was trying to come up with appropriate words of praise
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hesitance
In fact, she’s seen this resistance firsthand when folks in her co-living spaces express hesitance about accepting babysitting help pro-bono.
—
Charlotte Collins, Architectural Digest, 17 Dec. 2024
So maybe some of the resistance in the right wing became neutral, and some of the hesitance among the parties in the center of Danish politics became slightly positive.
—Kenny Torrella, Vox, 21 Nov. 2024
Lobell said cost plays a key role in the hesitance to innovate.
—James Manso, WWD, 28 Jan. 2025
Renick said that Gemma's hesitance to accept treats likely stems from her past, which remains a mystery but clearly included hardships.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitance
Charlotte Collins, Architectural Digest, 17 Dec. 2024
So maybe some of the resistance in the right wing became neutral, and some of the hesitance among the parties in the center of Danish politics became slightly positive.
—Kenny Torrella, Vox, 21 Nov. 2024
Lobell said cost plays a key role in the hesitance to innovate.
—James Manso, WWD, 28 Jan. 2025
Renick said that Gemma's hesitance to accept treats likely stems from her past, which remains a mystery but clearly included hardships.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitance
Noun
-
Here, technology can help traditional sports but there is a strong reluctance to change the essence of sport itself.—
John Cairney,
Sportico.com,
27 Feb. 2025
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First-time show host Conan O’Brien explained the team’s reluctance.—
Paul Grein,
Billboard,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Taking small steps toward dating and being open to new experiences can help break the cycle of hesitation.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
-
But as the weeks passed, Minnie's initial hesitation turned into affection.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Nothing has been said officially in this regard, but perhaps some of the apparent hesitancy of coaches or Concacaf representatives to speak publicly on the matter in the immediate aftermath was based on speculation that the likely true nature of events involved some sort of misunderstanding.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
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And Patton’s memorable opening speech hints at the film’s hesitancy about turning men into myths.—
Will Leitch,
Vulture,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Reuters reported that a senior USAID official wrote in a March 2 internal memo that a yearlong pause in USAID’s work on health, food and agriculture in the world’s poorest countries would raise malaria deaths by 40%, to between 71,000 and 166,000 annually.—
Christian Ruth,
The Conversation,
5 Mar. 2025
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How Trump’s trade war could hit your wallet After earlier threats and a last-minute pause in February, President Trump’s North American trade war has begun while the tariff battle with China escalated.—
Ryan Fonseca,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hesitance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitance. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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