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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hesitance
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
The war plans group chat uncovered by a journalist at The Atlantic exposed some daylight between Vice President Vance and others in the administration, showing Vance’s hesitance about launching a military strike that President Trump has hailed this week as necessary and successful.
—Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 29 Mar. 2025
This often shows up in subtle ways: a reluctance to apply for promotions, a hesitance to speak up in high-stakes meetings, or discomfort in presenting a polished resume or LinkedIn profile.
—Amanda Miller Littlejohn, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Dasha led the melodic charge with short phrases that captured the character’s hesitance.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitance
Anne Tapp Jaksa, Baltimore Sun, 14 Apr. 2025
The war plans group chat uncovered by a journalist at The Atlantic exposed some daylight between Vice President Vance and others in the administration, showing Vance’s hesitance about launching a military strike that President Trump has hailed this week as necessary and successful.
—Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 29 Mar. 2025
This often shows up in subtle ways: a reluctance to apply for promotions, a hesitance to speak up in high-stakes meetings, or discomfort in presenting a polished resume or LinkedIn profile.
—Amanda Miller Littlejohn, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Dasha led the melodic charge with short phrases that captured the character’s hesitance.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitance
Noun
-
Perhaps what’s driving continued reluctance to cover these products for weight loss is the overall impact that GLP-1s have on employers’ pharmacy budgets.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
-
But that would be a huge change in direction, given his consistent reluctance to confront and punish the Kremlin so far.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
26 May 2025
Noun
-
The memory of what happened the last time around might be contributing to the hesitation.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
13 June 2025
-
Most purchases aren’t made through a purely logical process but are influenced by how customers feel in the moment—whether a price excites them, creates hesitation or triggers an impulse buy.—
Anton Timashev,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
Unlike Southampton, who promptly dispatched their second manager of this season, Ivan Juric, immediately after relegation was confirmed, there has been a hesitancy about making a change.—
Rob Tanner,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
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The filmmakers went beyond celebrities and experts, also talking to regular people, including some residents of the Bay Area, about their own hesitancy, and how their views have or have not changed.—
Harriet Blair Rowan,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
In addition to the hiring freeze, University President Ron Daniels also announced a pause in annual pay increases for employees earning $80,000 or more, a slowing of capital projects by 10% to 20%, and spending cuts for travel, events, food, and supplies.—
Paul Weinstein Jr,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
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That can mean pressing pause on hiring, cutting workers' hours and even laying off staff, business owners say.—
Anne Marie D. Lee,
CBS News,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hesitance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitance. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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