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
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Recent Examples of hesitation
To secure its citizens and the gains achieved during this war, Israel cannot afford hesitation.
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Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024
So, part of your friend’s hesitation may be related to the scope of the duties required of a will’s executor.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 29 Nov. 2024
But if there are these questions of losing your license or going to jail, that just means that there’s a hesitation.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 25 Nov. 2024
Muna is hardly the only band to express hesitation about discussing their identity publicly.
—Abigail Covington, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hesitation 
Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024
So, part of your friend’s hesitation may be related to the scope of the duties required of a will’s executor.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 29 Nov. 2024
But if there are these questions of losing your license or going to jail, that just means that there’s a hesitation.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 25 Nov. 2024
Muna is hardly the only band to express hesitation about discussing their identity publicly.
—Abigail Covington, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hesitation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitation
Noun
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Related article What to do if your flight is canceled or delayed One reason for the hesitancy is that prices at the grocery store remain elevated to cook that classic Thanksgiving dinner.Alexandra Skores, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024
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But there was also a hesitancy at the back that allowed the visitors to stride forward unopposed.Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 18 Aug. 2024
Noun
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As the war in Ukraine escalated and the enmity between Moscow and its Western rivals deepened, Lukashenko's apparent hesitance to fully commit to the conflict seems to have bought him some level of freedom from retaliation.David Brennan, ABC News, 5 Dec. 2024
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That regulatory hesitance has spurred a boom in e-wallets and digital banks across the Asia-Pacific region, as companies target unbanked and underbanked populations in developing markets.Chris Morris, Fortune Asia, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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This time of year offers a natural pause to evaluate the past and consider the future.Molly Peck, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
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Drone activity over the weekend forced a pause on air traffic in at least two states.Emma Bowman, NPR, 15 Dec. 2024
Noun
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And that means more time, which might make the delay to millions of upgrades more palatable.Zak Doffman, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
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The five years was due in part to a number of delays.Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near hesitation
Cite this Entry
“Hesitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitation. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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