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

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 The deal could age poorly if Nemec turns into an elite top-pair defenseman — the goal for a player drafted with the second pick — but the Devils clearly saw enough to feel some hesitancy that that would happen. — Peter Baugh, New York Times, 23 June 2026 His hesitancy could undermine one of DeSantis’ key arguments to sway voters, particularly those in small counties, in favor of the amendment. — Romy Ellenbogen Herald, Miami Herald, 2 June 2026 Women’s hesitancy to use AI is instead a rational response to a competency penalty that women face when using AI in the workplace. — Michelle Travis, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 The Iranian regime’s apparent hesitancy to resume in-person talks is a significant step back from the high-level talks that took place in Switzerland earlier this month following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the countries. — Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hesitancy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitancy

Noun

Bill Clinton’s reluctance to commit ground troops in areas of distress.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 July 2026
The outlet noted that concerns about travel restrictions, including those from the US, and the impact on the local tourism industry may be driving the country’s reluctance to share more information.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026

Definition of reluctance

Noun

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
That hesitance in the Republican Party coexists with palpable relief that there’s a ceasefire agreement in the Middle East after months of strikes on Iran.

— Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 15 June 2026

Definition of hesitance

Noun

The stock has eased slightly since then to around $171, a normal pause after such a steep run, and the level to watch is whether that old $130 breakout zone holds if the pullback extends.

— Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 6 July 2026
Packages flow directly from dock doors into scanning, identification and stacking—with no pauses, no handoffs and no redesigns.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 6 July 2026

Definition of pause

Browse Nearby Words

hesitance

hesitancy

hesitant

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Hesitancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitancy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of hesitancy

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on hesitancy

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

perfunctory

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes