HESITATES Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

hesitates

verb

present tense third-person singular of hesitate

as in falters

to show uncertainty about the right course of action I didn't hesitate to tell them that what they were doing was wrong and that I wanted no part of it

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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.

Recent Examples of hesitates Your vehicle hesitates when shifting gears A short pause or delay between pressing the gas and your car responding is an early sign of transmission trouble. — Michael Kurko, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026 If someone hesitates, gently restate the goal and offer one reasonable option while staying loyal to your own needs. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2026 In Spearfish, Yu hesitates over a set of cow grates and dumps her bike at low velocity. — Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026 Hassan hesitates over an undercooked backpass, Haaland smells blood, and Iraq are toast. — Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 24 June 2026 Yet the same board that will fund AI transformation, wellness apps, psychometrics, dashboards and catered offsites often still hesitates to fund serious executive coaching for the people making the highest-risk decisions in the company. — Bydr. Corrie Block, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 And yet, even after years of success in other projects like Scooby-Doo, Scream 2, and Cruel Intentions, Gellar still hesitates when splurging on expensive items. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 June 2026 Passengers swear and cry in multiple languages; at Gracie Mansion, an unpopular mayor hesitates to address the public for fear of being booed. — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 22 June 2026 If someone hesitates, keep spirits up and adjust the route without losing the goal, then genuinely celebrate small wins. — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 15 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitates

Verb

Extreme heat is redefining electricity as emergency infrastructure, pushing grids to their limits as demand soars and supply falters.

— Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
While the federal government remains indispensable in public health, these state-level collaborations demonstrated that regional governance can emerge quickly when national leadership falters.

— John Eger, Mercury News, 17 July 2026

Definition of falters

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hesitated

hesitates

hesitating

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“Hesitates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitates. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of hesitates

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