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
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Recent Examples of hesitation
Then, there are perspectives from recent news, including the financial woes facing Tennessee State University and a Tennessee connection to vaccine hesitation and misinformation that mentions none other than Ms. Dolly Parton herself.
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David Plazas, The Tennessean, 1 Jan. 2025
Was there any hesitation to do this during the holidays?
—Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024
This rare moment of hesitation from a man who is usually so sure-footed in the recording studio underscores the paradox of Edgar Barrera: a towering figure in Latin music who is most often behind the scenes.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 19 Dec. 2024
Even after the invasion, the Biden administration’s assistance to Ukraine was beset by hesitation, needless restrictions, and endless deliberation.
—Mitch McConnell, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hesitation 
David Plazas, The Tennessean, 1 Jan. 2025
Was there any hesitation to do this during the holidays?
—Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024
This rare moment of hesitation from a man who is usually so sure-footed in the recording studio underscores the paradox of Edgar Barrera: a towering figure in Latin music who is most often behind the scenes.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 19 Dec. 2024
Even after the invasion, the Biden administration’s assistance to Ukraine was beset by hesitation, needless restrictions, and endless deliberation.
—Mitch McConnell, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hesitation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitation
Noun
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The actor also supported Chalamet’s hesitancy to disclose details about the transformation.Julie Jordan, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024
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Even following such an uplifting and dominant win, Newcastle’s baffling, up-and-down campaign demands such hesitancy.Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
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As Gaetz's controversies dominated the news cycle and senators on both sides of the aisle expressed hesitance about confirming his nomination, murmurs arose that the Ethics Committee was thinking about finally releasing its report on the lawmaker given the strong public interest.Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 23 Dec. 2024
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There was a certain reticence and hesitance from Utah’s shooters.Thomas Drance, The Athletic, 19 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Billionaires Bill Ackman and Len Blavatnik joined in on the call for her resignation, with Blavatnik putting a pause on his donations to the school.Maria Gracia Santillana Linares, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
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Midweek Breaks: Holidays like New Year's Day, Juneteenth, and Veterans Day offer midweek pauses, which can be used for shorter getaways or personal downtime.David Faris, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
Noun
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This delay adds to a string of setbacks for New Glenn, which has been in development for a decade.Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025
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Complicating the court’s deliberations is that the nine-member court currently only has eight justices, due to a delay in filling vacancies left by retired justices.Helen Regan, CNN, 13 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near hesitation
Cite this Entry
“Hesitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitation. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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