Hesitance — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈhe-zə-tən(t)s/ hes·i·tance

Meaning & Definition of Hesitance

Hesitance (noun)

  1. hesitancy

Hesitance (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a lack of willingness or desire to do or accept something

    "sales figures for the month were up, as consumers began to overcome their hesitance about purchasing big-ticket items"

    similar: disinclination, hesitancy, reluctance, reticence, unwillingness
    related: faltering, fence-sitting, hesitation, indecision, irresolution, shilly-shallying, staggering, vacillation, wavering, wobbling, distrust, distrustfulness, doubt, incertitude, misdoubt, misgiving, mistrust, mistrustfulness, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainness, uncertainty
    opposite: inclination, willingness
    near: assurance, assuredness, certainty, certitude, conviction, positiveness, sureness, surety

  2. a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action

    "she mistook my hesitance to mean I didn't like her poem, but I was trying to come up with appropriate words of praise"

    similar: faltering, fence-sitting, hesitancy, hesitation, indecision, irresolution, pause, shilly-shally, shilly-shallying, vacillation, wavering, wobbling
    related: delay, hawing, procrastination, waiting, arrière-pensée, misgiving, second thought, consideration, debate, deliberation, doubt, incertitude, indecisiveness, indetermination, uncertainness, uncertainty, avoidance, equivocation, aversion, disinclination, indisposition, reluctance, unwillingness, faintheartedness, shyness, timidity, timidness
    near: certainty, certitude, confidence, decisiveness, determination, firmness, resoluteness, resolution, sureness, alacrity, eagerness, readiness

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Hesitance

The most common words with a similar meaning to Hesitance:

disinclination, hesitancy, reluctance, reticence, unwillingness, faltering, fence-sitting, hesitation, indecision, irresolution, pause, shilly-shally, shilly-shallying, vacillation, wavering, wobbling

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Hesitance

Words with the opposite meaning of Hesitance:

inclination, willingness

Related Words for Hesitance

staggering, distrust, distrustfulness, doubt, incertitude, misdoubt, misgiving, mistrust, mistrustfulness, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainness, uncertainty, delay, hawing, procrastination, waiting, arrière-pensée, second thought, consideration, debate, deliberation, indecisiveness, indetermination, avoidance, equivocation, aversion, indisposition, faintheartedness, shyness

Near Antonyms of Hesitance

assurance, assuredness, certainty, certitude, conviction, positiveness, sureness, surety, confidence, decisiveness, determination, firmness, resoluteness, resolution, alacrity, eagerness, readiness

Origin & Etymology of Hesitance

First known use: 1601

Frequently Asked Questions about Hesitance

What does "Hesitance" mean?

"Hesitance" means hesitancy. As a noun, it is defined as: hesitancy. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Hesitance"?

Other words for "Hesitance" include disinclination, hesitancy, reluctance, reticence, unwillingness, faltering, fence-sitting and hesitation. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Hesitance" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Hesitance"?

There are 48 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Hesitance". Common alternatives include disinclination, hesitancy, reluctance, reticence, unwillingness, faltering, fence-sitting, hesitation, indecision and irresolution.

What is the opposite of "Hesitance"?

Antonyms of "Hesitance" include inclination and willingness. Near antonyms include assurance, assuredness, certainty and certitude.

How do you use "Hesitance" in a sentence?

Examples of "Hesitance" in a sentence: "sales figures for the month were up, as consumers began to overcome their hesitance about purchasing big-ticket items"; "she mistook my hesitance to mean I didn't like her poem, but I was trying to come up with appropriate words of praise".

Is "Hesitance" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Hesitance" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Hesitance"?

"Hesitance" is pronounced /ˈhe-zə-tən(t)s/ and divided into syllables as hes·i·tance.

What is the origin of the word "Hesitance"?

First known use: 1601.