adj
ambivalent
am-BIHV-uh-luhnt
Ambivalent (adj) means having mixed or contradictory feelings about someone or something. Example: “He felt ambivalent about the promotion — excited but also anxious about the extra hours.”
adj
1
Having mixed or contradictory feelings about someone or something.
"He felt ambivalent about the promotion — excited but also anxious about the extra hours."
"She's ambivalent about moving abroad; part of her wants to go, part doesn't."
How to use ambivalent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTorn between two opposite feelings or opinions about the same thing.
Common mistake
Ambivalent doesn't mean "indifferent" or "don't care" — it means feeling two conflicting things at once.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
ambivalent about
ambivalent feelings
deeply ambivalent
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like ambivalent.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more ambivalent
- Superlative
- most ambivalent
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He felt _____ about the promotion — excited but also anxious about the extra hours.
Etymology
A back-formation from "ambivalence", from German Ambivalenz, built from Latin ambi- ("both ways") plus valere ("to be strong").
Related words
Rhymes for ambivalent
See all rhymes for ambivalent →Frequently asked questions
What does “ambivalent” mean?
The word “ambivalent” means having mixed or contradictory feelings about someone or something. In plain terms, torn between two opposite feelings or opinions about the same thing.
How do you pronounce “ambivalent”?
“Ambivalent” is pronounced am-BIHV-uh-luhnt (/æmˈbɪv.ə.lənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “ambivalent” in a sentence?
Here is “ambivalent” used in a sentence: “He felt ambivalent about the promotion — excited but also anxious about the extra hours.”
What part of speech is “ambivalent”?
“Ambivalent” is an adjective.
Where does the word “ambivalent” come from?
The word “ambivalent” comes from Latin. A back-formation from "ambivalence", from German Ambivalenz, built from Latin ambi- ("both ways") plus valere ("to be strong").
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include ambivalent:
