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

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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 Those memories haven’t faded, and the broken trust should leave a healthy hesitancy about what comes next. — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 Much of the hesitancy surrounding private loans stems from interest rates. — Emily Green, Freep.com, 5 Sep. 2026 Handy said hesitancy around the measles vaccine dates back to 2000 or even earlier. — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026 Last week, the president issued another executive order that’s sure to fuel further hesitancy about the shot that has protected children from measles, mumps and rubella for decades. — Patricia Callahan, ProPublica, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hesitancy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitancy

Noun

Against that backdrop, the royal visit signals that Spain is shedding its longstanding reluctance to send its monarchs to the exclaves, Amirah-Fernández said.

— JOSEPH WILSON, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
Still, shares fell almost 3% despite the solid results, reflecting investors' reluctance to reward even better-than-expected earnings amid broader concerns about the banking sector.

— Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of reluctance

Noun

But the earnestness of their performances, the texture of their hesitation, makes the video far more compelling than any of its deepfake counterparts.

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Decker said people who are homeless can feel hesitation to come into shelter, but Open Doors has built a rapport in the neighborhood and would want to stay.

— Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of hesitation

Noun

However, Pritzker’s hesitance to deploy a comprehensive solution to data centers could be his Achilles’ heel in the primaries.

— Patrick McNamara, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of hesitance

Noun

Trump told Congress that the pause was in the national interest but gave no further details.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
Decades later, the character helped Harris navigate a daunting first feature — including a two-week production pause to overhaul a story that was not yet working.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of pause

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hesitance

hesitancy

hesitant

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Style

“Hesitancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitancy. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of hesitancy

noun

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