HESITANCY Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

hesitancy

noun

ˈhe-zə-tən(t)-sē

Definition of hesitancy

as in reluctance

a lack of willingness or desire to do or accept something his appointment to the superintendency was confirmed by the school board without the least hesitancy

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 his hesitancy in pulling over into the next lane while he had a chance resulted in him missing his exit

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 hesitancy During the panel, Flanagan shared that there were initial hesitancies about creating the series. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026 Even though The Fool has forward momentum, like Plath, that momentum can lead to hesitancy — one step in the wrong direction, and The Fool falls off the cliff. — Literary Hub, 24 July 2026 If the primary conversation around wide releases this year is that it’s been mostly the risks reaping rewards, this hesitancy around sending films to festivals is not really serving anyone seeking to win an Academy Award. — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 23 July 2026 Lotus seems to have ironed out the hesitancy that previously afflicted the dual-clutch ’box, particularly when parking. — Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hesitancy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitancy

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

Dexter grapples with killing her, but Rudy eventually can’t handle Dexter’s hesitance and takes the knife into his own hands—and nearly plunges it into Debra’s chest before Dexter stops him.

— EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026
That hesitance in the Republican Party coexists with palpable relief that there’s a ceasefire agreement in the Middle East after months of strikes on Iran.

— Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 15 June 2026

Definition of hesitance

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

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hesitance

hesitancy

hesitant

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“Hesitancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitancy. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of hesitancy

noun

Example Sentences

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