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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of hesitance
While not referring specifically to Florida's case, Redfin experts said that the election is playing a role in the hesitance of buyers and sellers in the U.S. housing market.
—
Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
It was assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 1 but has yet to make it to a calendar, which could suggest hesitance to take up a measure legal staff has cautioned could bring constitutional challenges.
—Melissa Brown, The Tennessean, 4 Mar. 2024
This hesitance could jeopardize the continent's climate goals and its automotive sector, which is heavily reliant on transitioning to EVs.
—Robert Rapier, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for hesitance 
Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
It was assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 1 but has yet to make it to a calendar, which could suggest hesitance to take up a measure legal staff has cautioned could bring constitutional challenges.
—Melissa Brown, The Tennessean, 4 Mar. 2024
This hesitance could jeopardize the continent's climate goals and its automotive sector, which is heavily reliant on transitioning to EVs.
—Robert Rapier, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for hesitance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitance
Noun
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His reluctance to promote democracy overseas could shade into disregard for democratic norms at home, potentially resulting in irreversible damage to the nation’s representative institutions.Charles A. Kupchan, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
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The bigger issue is the Sox’s continued reluctance to spend big.Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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For example, a financial services organization rolling out a new product and working to generate sales using only CRM data might overlook early signs of buyer hesitation.Eilon Reshef, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
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The common signs of vision loss include bumping into objects, difficulty finding food or toys, hesitation with jumping, anxiety, clinginess, or even aggression due to vulnerability.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
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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The previous agreement, in November 2023, furnished only a pause.Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 16 Jan. 2025
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High-profile premieres have been canceled, and the city’s once-bustling red carpets are now on pause.Shelby Stewart, Essence, 16 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near hesitance
Cite this Entry
“Hesitance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitance. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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