as in hesitancy
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action
one moment's hesitation on my part, and the elusive butterfly was lost to me forever
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hesitation
After some hesitation, Henry eventually recognized her, returning for cuddles.
—
Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
Addressing the hesitation Despite these advances, AAA’s report shows that some common concerns are still top of mind.
—Melanie Marshall, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 June 2025
Though Prince Harry put the offer to reconcile with his father in front of the public, there’s still hesitation on Buckingham Palace’s side.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 4 June 2025
His minimalist, yet profoundly empathetic storytelling lets the audience observe the slow process of coming together, the fears and hesitations of the newborn family, and the absurdities of the non-functioning state apparatus.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitation
Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
Addressing the hesitation Despite these advances, AAA’s report shows that some common concerns are still top of mind.
—Melanie Marshall, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 June 2025
Though Prince Harry put the offer to reconcile with his father in front of the public, there’s still hesitation on Buckingham Palace’s side.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 4 June 2025
His minimalist, yet profoundly empathetic storytelling lets the audience observe the slow process of coming together, the fears and hesitations of the newborn family, and the absurdities of the non-functioning state apparatus.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitation
Noun
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Unlike Southampton, who promptly dispatched their second manager of this season, Ivan Juric, immediately after relegation was confirmed, there has been a hesitancy about making a change.—
Rob Tanner,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
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The filmmakers went beyond celebrities and experts, also talking to regular people, including some residents of the Bay Area, about their own hesitancy, and how their views have or have not changed.—
Harriet Blair Rowan,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Boomers are more likely to emphasize resilience, self-reliance, and the belief that personal struggles should be handled privately, that seeking help is a weakness, resulting in a hesitance to seek external support like therapy.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
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However, there was hesitance among owners to strip division champions of their first-round home-field advantage, prompting the modification to reseed after the wild-card round.—
Jayna Bardahl,
New York Times,
20 May 2025
Noun
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In addition to the hiring freeze, University President Ron Daniels also announced a pause in annual pay increases for employees earning $80,000 or more, a slowing of capital projects by 10% to 20%, and spending cuts for travel, events, food, and supplies.—
Paul Weinstein Jr,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
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That can mean pressing pause on hiring, cutting workers' hours and even laying off staff, business owners say.—
Anne Marie D. Lee,
CBS News,
6 June 2025
Noun
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After a brief rain delay in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Hurricanes again couldn’t string together any hits to cut into the Cardinals’ lead.—
Cameron Priester,
Sun Sentinel,
7 June 2025
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Initial delays were caused by a five-year closing process, which came to an end in 2023.—
Desiree Mathurin,
Charlotte Observer,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hesitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitation. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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