1
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
2
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of hesitancy
But there was also a hesitancy at the back that allowed the visitors to stride forward unopposed.
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Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 18 Aug. 2024
With that, the hesitancy to stand too close to Stan doesn’t seem to extend to his place the blockbuster realm of Disney’s MCU — at least not yet.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2024
Just five years ago, the company's CFO was open about its hesitancy in getting involved in the crypto space.
—Lisa Loud, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
He is shifty enough, though, and competes quite hard, showing no hesitancy to play the body.
—Corey Pronman, The Athletic, 27 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hesitancy 
Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 18 Aug. 2024
With that, the hesitancy to stand too close to Stan doesn’t seem to extend to his place the blockbuster realm of Disney’s MCU — at least not yet.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2024
Just five years ago, the company's CFO was open about its hesitancy in getting involved in the crypto space.
—Lisa Loud, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
He is shifty enough, though, and competes quite hard, showing no hesitancy to play the body.
—Corey Pronman, The Athletic, 27 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hesitancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitancy
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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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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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 hesitancy
Cite this Entry
“Hesitancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitancy. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.
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