HESITANCE Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

hesitance

noun

ˈhe-zə-tən(t)s

Definition of hesitance

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of hesitance Sensing hesitance as well as incompetence, coaches and players alike tried to sway the flailing fill-ins at every turn. — Michael Silver, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026 Some supporters of the Wide Awakes’ rebirth have expressed hesitance about its aesthetics, especially the optics of torch-wielding vigilantes marching through the streets. — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 27 Apr. 2026 Management’s choice to uphold full-year guidance for 5% revenue growth and $1 billion in additional free cash flow, even after the positive performance, indicates internal hesitance regarding the sustainability of hardware. — Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2026 The hesitance that some people expressed was not based on a fear of exposure to the coronavirus. — Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hesitance

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitance

Noun

In stopping short of imposing sanctions on the Egyptian bank, the Republican administration appeared to be signaling its reluctance to penalize major trading partners that do business with Iran, including China and India.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
But rising costs and a reluctance to return to social spaces after the pandemic have hit restaurants hard in an already challenging industry.

— Whitney Eulich, Christian Science Monitor, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of reluctance

Noun

Someone may be ready to build with you, but hesitation, mixed signals, or too many moving pieces could slow the process down.

— Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
But the full game tape shows those are few and far between — his hesitation and questionable decisions make the lowlights a near-constant.

— Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of hesitation

Noun

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy defines a thru-hike as completing all of the trail’s sections in any order within a year, allowing for pauses.

— Holly Ramer, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
This summer's pause in data reporting for Somalia came at a particularly precarious time.

— Durrie Bouscaren, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of pause

Browse Nearby Words

hero-worships

hesitance

hesitancy

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“Hesitance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitance. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of hesitance

noun

Example Sentences

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