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
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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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Recent Examples of hesitancy
The event signals a substantial nod of confidence in Harris from a critical part of the LGBTQ+ community that has historically eyed her with hesitancy.
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Condé Nast, Them, 15 Aug. 2024
Many attribute their hesitancy to the perception that physicians are unwilling or unable to help.
—Henry Bair, STAT, 31 July 2024
Rivera, who lives in Goodyear, will be voting for the very first time in this election, and despite some hesitancy at the beginning, solidified his support for Harris.
—Rafael Carranza, The Arizona Republic, 31 Oct. 2024
Yes, this story was reportedly (mostly) true as Belushi didn't sign his contract until moments before the cold open due to his hesitancy over the show and joining TV in general.
—Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 12 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hesitancy 
Condé Nast, Them, 15 Aug. 2024
Many attribute their hesitancy to the perception that physicians are unwilling or unable to help.
—Henry Bair, STAT, 31 July 2024
Rivera, who lives in Goodyear, will be voting for the very first time in this election, and despite some hesitancy at the beginning, solidified his support for Harris.
—Rafael Carranza, The Arizona Republic, 31 Oct. 2024
Yes, this story was reportedly (mostly) true as Belushi didn't sign his contract until moments before the cold open due to his hesitancy over the show and joining TV in general.
—Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 12 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hesitancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitancy
Noun
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Some residents also expressed reluctance to support the measure, citing the already high cost of living as their main deterrent.Luis Melecio-Zambrano, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
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This indicates a reluctance to take responsibility and hampers collaboration.Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
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While the women are coming in oozing with persona and charisma, there is still a sense of hesitation in trying to mark their territory.Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2024
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In new partnerships, there’s often a sense of hesitation as both sides gauge each other’s commitment.Benjamin Laker, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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His bouts with his command bring some hesitance to fully trust him, but he’s shown signs of positive development.Sahadev Sharma, The Athletic, 9 July 2024
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In its hesitance to allow women to express negative emotion, House of the Dragon leaves them feeling curiously detached.Nate Jones, Vulture, 4 July 2024
Noun
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But the return of Terry Silver and that horrible Sekai Taikai tragedy seemed to put any hope for romance on pause, at least for now.Nick Caruso, TVLine, 19 Nov. 2024
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For months now, 8 million borrowers enrolled in SAVE have been on pause, not being asked to make payments while the courts slowly decide whether the repayment plan is legal.Jonaki Mehta, NPR, 19 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near hesitancy
Cite this Entry
“Hesitancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitancy. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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