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
Amelia pulled off the surgery and admitted their hesitations came from her brother Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) not being able to complete a similar procedure.
—
Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 2 May 2025
This policy mix, many economists say, is contributing to economic volatility and investor hesitation.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Voter Reaction: The latest in a series of check-ins with a variety of voters who made their choices in November’s election with some hesitation.
—Peter Baker, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
As the fintech industry recalibrates—shifting from growth-at-all-costs to sustainable, focused models—leaders like Ferris are proving that clarity beats chaos, and conviction beats hesitation.
—Nicole Casperson, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitation
Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 2 May 2025
This policy mix, many economists say, is contributing to economic volatility and investor hesitation.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Voter Reaction: The latest in a series of check-ins with a variety of voters who made their choices in November’s election with some hesitation.
—Peter Baker, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
As the fintech industry recalibrates—shifting from growth-at-all-costs to sustainable, focused models—leaders like Ferris are proving that clarity beats chaos, and conviction beats hesitation.
—Nicole Casperson, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitation
Noun
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But a broader cultural hesitancy about the technology’s implications meant that, once OpenAI made its breakthrough, Altman—its C.E.O.—came to be seen not only as a fiduciary steward but also as an ethical one.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
19 May 2025
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Many of their star performers were overworked, in part due to poor feedback loops with leadership, lack of strong team communication and an overall hesitancy to name workload imbalances.—
Woodrie Burich,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
Noun
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But that is where the similarities end, and where the hesitance to believe the Knicks had a chance at the reigning champs seeps in deep.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
6 May 2025
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This hesitance only reinforces the false narrative that race is a divisive topic rather than an integral part of understanding American society.—
Anne Tapp Jaksa,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Storms in the area put the search on pause between 1:30 and 6 a.m. May 26, then crews resumed until Smith was found the next day, officials said.—
Natalie Demaree,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2025
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What To Know Secretary of State Marco Rubio had signed and sent a diplomatic cable on Tuesday ordering the pause to student visa interviews and outlining a shift in vetting procedures.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
Noun
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Nola’s delay Two days ago, Aaron Nola tested his sprained right ankle for the first time since going on the injured list May 16.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
26 May 2025
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Because of the trial delays, her test date fell during the murder trial.—
Amy Lavalley,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hesitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitation. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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