hesitation
12 synonyms and 1 antonym for hesitation, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A brief pause caused by uncertainty or reluctance before acting or deciding.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
wavering
indecision
second thoughts
dithering
disinclination
indisposition
falter
hesitance
hesitancy
hold-up
faltering
Antonyms
How to use hesitation
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
without hesitation
a moment of hesitation
show hesitation
Etymology
From Latin haesitātiō ("a stammering, hesitating"), from haesitare ("to hesitate").
Full origin of hesitation →Frequently asked questions
What does “hesitation” mean?
The word “hesitation” means a brief pause caused by uncertainty or reluctance before acting or deciding. In plain terms, a pause or delay caused by doubt about what to do.
How do you pronounce “hesitation”?
“Hesitation” is pronounced heh-zih-TAY-shuhn (/ˌhɛzɪˈteɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “hesitation” in a sentence?
Here is “hesitation” used in a sentence: “She answered without hesitation.”
What is another word for “hesitation”?
Words with a similar meaning to “hesitation” include hesitance, hesitancy and hold-up.
What part of speech is “hesitation”?
“Hesitation” is a noun.
Where does the word “hesitation” come from?
The word “hesitation” comes from Latin. From Latin haesitātiō ("a stammering, hesitating"), from haesitare ("to hesitate").
Is “hesitation” a common word?
“Hesitation” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between hesitation and hesitancy?
Hesitation typically refers to a specific, brief pause before acting or deciding, while hesitancy describes a more general tendency or disposition toward being uncertain. In practice the two words overlap heavily and are often used interchangeably.
What is a common collocation using the word hesitation?
"Without hesitation" is a very common phrase, used to describe acting or answering immediately and confidently, with no pause caused by doubt. "A moment's hesitation" is another frequent pairing describing a brief pause before someone acts.
What is the difference between hesitation and reluctance?
Hesitation describes the brief pause itself, caused by uncertainty, before a person acts or decides. Reluctance describes an unwillingness or disinclination to do something at all, which may or may not involve a visible pause.
