hesitant

adjective

hes·​i·​tant ˈhe-zə-tənt How to pronounce hesitant (audio)
Synonyms of hesitant
: slow to act or proceed (as from fear, indecision, or unwillingness) : tending to hesitate : showing or feeling reluctance or hesitation
took a hesitant step towards the door
hesitant about accepting the job
hesitantly adverb

Synonyms of hesitant

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disinclined, hesitant, reluctant, loath, averse mean lacking the will or desire to do something indicated.

disinclined implies lack of taste for or inclination.

disinclined to move again
disinclined for reading

hesitant implies a holding back especially through fear or uncertainty.

hesitant about asking for a date

reluctant implies a holding back through unwillingness.

a reluctant witness

loath implies hesitancy because of conflict with one's opinions, predilections, or liking.

seems loath to trust anyone

averse implies a holding back from or avoiding because of distaste or repugnance.

averse to hard work
not averse to an occasional drink

Examples of hesitant in a Sentence

She took a hesitant step back from the door. He seems hesitant about accepting the job.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Its aging customer base had stopped eating out or died during the pandemic, and older customers were still hesitant to go back. — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026 Plum’s trade to Phoenix concluded a saga that included reports on Thursday that Golden State was hesitant to part with rotation players in exchange for the 31-year-old Sparks star. — Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 2 Aug. 2026 Especially in the trucking industry, where the average truck driver is 47 years old, workers may be hesitant toward AI. — Toni Pisano, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 The Edelman Trust Barometer annual report for 2026 found that 70% of respondents across 28 nations are hesitant or unwilling to trust someone who holds different views or supports different approaches to societal problems. — Kurt Shillinger, Christian Science Monitor, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hesitant

Word History

Etymology

see hesitate

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hesitant was in 1647

Phrases Containing hesitant

Browse Nearby Words

hesitancy
hesitant
hesitantly
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Cite this Entry

“Hesitant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hesitant. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hesitant

adjective
hes·​i·​tant ˈhez-ə-tənt How to pronounce hesitant (audio)
: tending to hesitate : slow to act or proceed
hesitantly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on hesitant

Nglish: Translation of hesitant for Spanish Speakers

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