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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
My main hesitancy is the baby registry.
—
Judith Martin, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2025
Inundated with protests and newfound hesitancy following the Three Mile Island accident in Pennsylvania, the company ceased construction a year later.
—Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 21 Aug. 2025
The hesitancy repeatedly expressed by Harden, who was appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, during two public hearings Tuesday signals further growing tension within the school board over how to address the district’s deepening fiscal crisis.
—Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
These bigger home-improvement projects are usually financed through loans, while smaller projects can be completed with cash payments, which plays into consumers’ hesitancy, said Home Depot chief financial officer Richard McPhail.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitancy
Judith Martin, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2025
Inundated with protests and newfound hesitancy following the Three Mile Island accident in Pennsylvania, the company ceased construction a year later.
—Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 21 Aug. 2025
The hesitancy repeatedly expressed by Harden, who was appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, during two public hearings Tuesday signals further growing tension within the school board over how to address the district’s deepening fiscal crisis.
—Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
These bigger home-improvement projects are usually financed through loans, while smaller projects can be completed with cash payments, which plays into consumers’ hesitancy, said Home Depot chief financial officer Richard McPhail.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitancy
Noun
-
The reluctance to delegate is understandable.—
Brent Gleeson,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
This is compelling in its own right, as the current practice facility (Joe Craft Center) was built in 2007 and athletics director Mitch Barnhart's reluctance to erect a new one was a catalyst in coach John Calipari's departure.—
Payton Titus,
Louisville Courier Journal,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
And if a player is Premier League-proven, there is also less hesitation to pay big sums of money to other domestic clubs.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Now ready for pre-sale, the Sync Oven and Sync Air Fryer exemplify an idea beyond a kitchen tool, one that replaces hesitation with clarity and guesswork with certainty.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Josh Brolin, who played big brother Brandon Walsh, expressed hesitance about a second movie.—
Daysia Tolentino,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Probably not, given the company’s strange hesitance to part ways with its current leadership.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The pause will last three years and could save restaurants $850 in fees annually while potentially boosting their sales.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
15 Sep. 2025
-
People hear your tone, your pauses, your personality.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hesitancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitancy. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share