as in falters
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
I didn't hesitate to tell them that what they were doing was wrong and that I wanted no part of it
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Recent Examples of hesitates
The mother in Frederick County still hesitates.
—
Natasha Dartigue, Baltimore Sun, 16 May 2026
His grandson, Jack Schlossberg, who is running for Congress, never hesitates to remind audiences of his lineage.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 14 May 2026
The sophomore forward rarely hesitates.
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
In the finale, Nicky hesitates at the altar, leading Rachel to question their relationship.
—Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Nicky hesitates at the altar, leading Rachel to question their relationship.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
How the Finale Changes Everything Nicky hesitates at the altar, sending Rachel spiraling.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 3 Apr. 2026
After Rachel and Nicky reach the altar, Nicky hesitates.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Mar. 2026
Though Pollan hesitates to claim that a fundamental aspect of human capability and human experience remains beyond science’s reach, A World Appears closely maps out such a territory.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 11 Mar. 2026
Natasha Dartigue, Baltimore Sun, 16 May 2026
His grandson, Jack Schlossberg, who is running for Congress, never hesitates to remind audiences of his lineage.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 14 May 2026
The sophomore forward rarely hesitates.
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
In the finale, Nicky hesitates at the altar, leading Rachel to question their relationship.
—Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Nicky hesitates at the altar, leading Rachel to question their relationship.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
How the Finale Changes Everything Nicky hesitates at the altar, sending Rachel spiraling.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 3 Apr. 2026
After Rachel and Nicky reach the altar, Nicky hesitates.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Mar. 2026
Though Pollan hesitates to claim that a fundamental aspect of human capability and human experience remains beyond science’s reach, A World Appears closely maps out such a territory.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitates
Verb
-
Once there’s some significant progress on the cross-country escape plan, the film falters a bit.—
Josh Slater-Williams,
IndieWire,
20 May 2026
-
As his relevance falters, Drake’s eye for slights and score-settling has grown so microscopic that even his stans need tweezers.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
22 May 2026
-
That 41-point gap is a measure of who is absorbing the risk while the country waits for a plan.—
Karen Kornbluh,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hesitates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitates. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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