hesitant

adjective

hes·i·tant ˈhe-zə-tənt How to pronounce hesitant (audio)

: slow to act or proceed (as from fear, indecision, or unwillingness) : tending to hesitate : showing or feeling reluctance or hesitation

took a hesitant step towards the door

hesitant about accepting the job

hesitantly adverb

Example Sentences

She took a hesitant step back from the door. He seems hesitant about accepting the job.

Recent Examples on the Web However hesitant Americans are about Novavax, for whatever reasons, the situation is quite the opposite elsewhere.

Erin Prater, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2022 Many physicians are hesitant to seek treatment due to the stigma and fear of losing their jobs.

Dr. Evelyn Huang, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2022 Babatunde was initially hesitant to join TikTok, relying primarily on his website and pre-existing clients to drive interest in his business.

Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 15 Sep. 2022 The only recourse is asking for a gubernatorial pardon, a process that, though important in the justice system, can be long and uncertain, especially when politicians are often hesitant to grant clemency during election years, experts say.

Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 14 Sep. 2022 Yaki, the former supervisor, pointed out that many immigrants may lack confidence in law enforcement or have difficulty navigating the justice system, and thus be hesitant to report crimes, either to police or to pollsters.

Rachel Swan, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Sep. 2022 Caitlyn Spaulding, a 17-year-old Lakota student and member of her school's Hope Squad, says she's noticed her peers are more withdrawn and hesitant to seek help since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Enquirer, 12 Sep. 2022 And there are other valid reasons people like Alicia are hesitant to accept a shelter bed.

San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2022 Some parents have been hesitant to vaccinate their children out of safety concerns.

Elaine Yu, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 See More

hesitant

adjective

as in reluctant

slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty he was hesitant about committing himself to the oversight of the project, which he knew would be long and difficult

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

reluctant
unsure
loathe
loath
skeptical
dubious
disinclined
unwilling
uncertain
reticent
timid
cagey
doubtful
indisposed
cagy
loth
unenthusiastic
averse
ambivalent
questioning
conflicted
undecided
vacillating
irresolute
faltering
wobbly
uneager
shy
indecisive
halting
infirm
fainthearted
wabbly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

eager
inclined
happy
glad
enthusiastic
willing
keen
ready
decided
sure
disposed
certain
determined
resolute
unquestioning

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of hesitant are averse, disinclined, loath, and reluctant. While all these words mean "lacking the will or desire to do something indicated," hesitant implies a holding back especially through fear or uncertainty.

hesitant about asking for a date

The synonyms averse and hesitant are sometimes interchangeable, but averse implies a holding back from or avoiding because of distaste or repugnance.

averse to hard work

not averse to an occasional drink

The words disinclined and hesitant can be used in similar contexts, but disinclined implies lack of taste for or inclination.

disinclined to move again

disinclined for reading

While the synonyms loath and hesitant are close in meaning, loath implies hesitancy because of conflict with one's opinions, predilections, or liking.

seems loath to trust anyone

The words reluctant and hesitant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, reluctant implies a holding back through unwillingness.

a reluctant witness

单词	hesitant
释义	hesitant adjective hes·i·tant ˈhe-zə-tənt : slow to act or proceed (as from fear, indecision, or unwillingness) : tending to hesitate : showing or feeling reluctance or hesitation took a hesitant step towards the door hesitant about accepting the job hesitantly adverb Synonyms cagey cagy disinclined dubious indisposed loath loth loathe reluctant reticent See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences She took a hesitant step back from the door. He seems hesitant about accepting the job. Recent Examples on the Web However hesitant Americans are about Novavax, for whatever reasons, the situation is quite the opposite elsewhere. Erin Prater, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2022 Many physicians are hesitant to seek treatment due to the stigma and fear of losing their jobs. Dr. Evelyn Huang, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2022 Babatunde was initially hesitant to join TikTok, relying primarily on his website and pre-existing clients to drive interest in his business. Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 15 Sep. 2022 The only recourse is asking for a gubernatorial pardon, a process that, though important in the justice system, can be long and uncertain, especially when politicians are often hesitant to grant clemency during election years, experts say. Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 14 Sep. 2022 Yaki, the former supervisor, pointed out that many immigrants may lack confidence in law enforcement or have difficulty navigating the justice system, and thus be hesitant to report crimes, either to police or to pollsters. Rachel Swan, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Sep. 2022 Caitlyn Spaulding, a 17-year-old Lakota student and member of her school's Hope Squad, says she's noticed her peers are more withdrawn and hesitant to seek help since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Enquirer, 12 Sep. 2022 And there are other valid reasons people like Alicia are hesitant to accept a shelter bed. San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2022 Some parents have been hesitant to vaccinate their children out of safety concerns. Elaine Yu, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 See More Word History Etymology see hesitate First Known Use 1647, in the meaning defined above Phrases Containing hesitant vaccine hesitant vaccine hesitant Kids Definition hesitant adjective hes·i·tant ˈhe-zə-tənt : feeling or showing unwillingness to do something because of doubt or nervousness I was hesitant to join in. hesitant adjective as in reluctant slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty he was hesitant about committing himself to the oversight of the project, which he knew would be long and difficult Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance reluctant unsure loathe loath skeptical dubious disinclined unwilling uncertain reticent timid cagey doubtful indisposed cagy loth unenthusiastic averse ambivalent questioning conflicted undecided vacillating irresolute faltering wobbly uneager shy indecisive halting infirm fainthearted wabbly Antonyms & Near Antonyms eager inclined happy glad enthusiastic willing keen ready decided sure disposed certain determined resolute unquestioning See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of hesitant are averse, disinclined, loath, and reluctant. While all these words mean "lacking the will or desire to do something indicated," hesitant implies a holding back especially through fear or uncertainty. hesitant about asking for a date The synonyms averse and hesitant are sometimes interchangeable, but averse implies a holding back from or avoiding because of distaste or repugnance. averse to hard work not averse to an occasional drink The words disinclined and hesitant can be used in similar contexts, but disinclined implies lack of taste for or inclination. disinclined to move again disinclined for reading While the synonyms loath and hesitant are close in meaning, loath implies hesitancy because of conflict with one's opinions, predilections, or liking. seems loath to trust anyone The words reluctant and hesitant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, reluctant implies a holding back through unwillingness. a reluctant witness
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hesitant

adjective

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing hesitant

Kids Definition

adjective

adjective

Synonym Chooser