hesitating 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of hesitatingnext
as in ambivalent

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hesitating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of hesitate
as in faltering
to show uncertainty about the right course of action I didn't hesitate to tell them that what they were doing was wrong and that I wanted no part of it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitating
  1. ambivalent
  2. shaky
  3. waiting
  4. random
  5. aimless
Adjective
  • Robeson, who was unavailable for the Broadway premiere but played Joe onstage and onscreen for nearly a decade afterward, had a relationship with the song that was ambivalent at best.
    Joshua Barone, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
  • But in a radio interview with Hugh Hewitt the next day, Trump was more ambivalent.
    Howard Gleckman, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Definition of ambivalent
Adjective
  • The 20-year-old Gauff overcame a shaky start and a total of 32 unforced errors and nine double faults to secure her 11th first-round win at a major in the last 12 Grand Slams.
    Manasi Pathak, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
  • In these shaky times, investors can enhance their portfolio returns by adding stocks backed by solid financials and long-term growth opportunities.
    TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 12 Jan. 2025
Definition of shaky
Verb
  • Some chatted among themselves, waiting to understand the meaning behind the invitation Saffold passed out to a select few students only weeks before.
    La Risa R. Lynch, Journal Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Armando, who was deemed healthy after receiving a treatment for an ear infection, is now one of the dogs waiting for his forever home at the shelter's Rob & Melani Walton Papago Park Campus.
    Karen Bartunek, The Arizona Republic, 24 Dec. 2024
Definition of waiting
Adjective
  • Oh, the third mode is a combination of both – sets of airbags inflate and deflate in seemingly random order – which has been perhaps my favorite setting.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Go and read random slave narratives and get their experience of the time.
    David Marchese, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
Definition of random
Adjective
  • Having a list also saves time by minimizing aimless browsing in stores or online.
    True Tamplin, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
  • Irsay pushed Ehlinger into the lineup during the disastrous 2022 season, but by the end of that campaign — one that began with Matt Ryan at the helm — the Colts found themselves in a familiar spot: aimless at the most important position on the field.
    Zak Keefer, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025
Definition of aimless
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near hesitating

hesitates

hesitating

hesitatingly

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Cite this Entry

“Hesitating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitating. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hesitating

Nglish: Translation of hesitating for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of hesitating for Arabic Speakers

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