How to Use ambivalence in a Sentence

ambivalence

noun
  • The changes are a source of both lament and ambivalence.
    — Naomi Jackson, Curbed, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Keaton’s ambivalence turns up in many of her roles, too.
    — Hilton Als, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
  • The fact that women could be the equals of men aroused ambivalence.
    — National Geographic, 18 June 2020
  • Post talks about getting back on the road with some ambivalence.
    — Lyndsey Havens, Billboard, 26 Jan. 2022
  • The shared ambivalence of all of these critics was telling.
    — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2025
  • And in a world that seems to have none, that ambivalence is his burden to bear.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 31 Jan. 2025
  • As a result, a sense of ambivalence seems to have taken hold around this team.
    — Stephen Holder, Indianapolis Star, 19 June 2017
  • Clarke conveys the weight of this, and Ted’s ambivalence about it.
    — Gary Thompson, Philly.com, 4 Apr. 2018
  • This creates a new task for the coachee called ambivalence handling.
    — Cristian Hofmann, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2023
  • Over the years, however, my pride gave way to ambivalence, and then shame.
    — Hazlitt, 11 June 2025
  • And thus we're left feeling the same ambivalence towards her.
    — Brynn Mannino, Woman's Day, 31 Mar. 2011
  • Perhaps most telling is the ambivalence that some groups express.
    — Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2021
  • But that didn’t change the men’s ambivalence about their own retirement.
    — Charley Locke, The Atlantic, 23 July 2024
  • The song is a very honest display of that ambivalence, anger and sadness.
    — Jonathan Cohen, Variety, 8 Feb. 2022
  • Up and down the state, there was little ambivalence for Elder, just love or hate.
    — Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2021
  • Massie admitted to some ambivalence about the prospect.
    — Russell Berman, The Atlantic, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Make some space for your own longing and ambivalence, and resolve not to treat these as moral failings on your part.
    — Heather Havrilesky, The Cut, 30 May 2018
  • This isn't the first time Clarke expressed ambivalence about the show's ending.
    — Julie Kosin, Harper's BAZAAR, 13 May 2019
  • His ambivalence toward protein was not unique.
    — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Apr. 2026
  • This kind of ambivalence is all over Meet Me by the Fountain.
    — Kristen Martin, The Atlantic, 21 June 2022
  • Or maybe the ambivalence is really about art, the agony and bliss of being chained to the drawing board.
    — Charlie Tyson, New Yorker, 4 June 2025
  • On the whole, the attitude towards the fence itself is one of deep ambivalence.
    — Time, 2 May 2018
  • Parton is not the first artist to express ambivalence about the Hall of Fame.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2022
  • Devil 2 has abandoned the old ambivalence about fashion’s role in the world.
    — Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026
  • My colleague Melissa Gomez spoke to a host of teens about their ambivalence.
    — Amina Khan Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2021
  • And when these children grow up, desire can trigger an acute ambivalence inside them.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
  • That ambivalence may be the point, but Will & Grace’s wry, airy tone may not be the best vessel for it.
    — Richard Lawson, HWD, 30 May 2018
  • My ambivalence comes because of the finiteness of the end of the shortest month on the calendar.
    — Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2021
  • That ambivalence was reflected in markets as well.
    — Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2025
  • Good actors Damon and Bale let their own modern ambivalence get in the way.
    — Armond White, National Review, 22 Nov. 2019

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ambivalence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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