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ambivalence Definition

am·biva·lence (am bivə ləns)

noun

simultaneous conflicting feelings toward a person or thing, as love and hate

Etymology: ambi- + valence

ambivalence Related Forms
am·biva·lent adjective am·biva·lently adverb
ambivalence Synonyms

ambivalence

n.

uncertainty, vacillation, conflicting feelings; see doubt 2.

ambivalence Usage Examples

Preposition: about

  • nature: A constant theme of these reports is a marked ambivalence about the nature of the inmates.

Converse of object

  • reveal: The reaction of the American public to the invasion of Iraq reveals a startling ambivalence to war in contemporary times.
  • express: Respondents expressed ambivalence to their drugs in various ways.
  • suggest: Clearly, the historical turn of events from non-violence to nuclear armament, suggest a deep ambivalence about Mahatma Gandhi's legacy.
  • show: Funding There was also considerable ambivalence shown toward funding partnerships.
  • have: That's one of the things on which I have greatest ambivalence, actually.
  • resolve: We shan't resolve the ambivalence in Marx -- or at least in possible interpretations of Marx.

Converse of subject

  • mark: Policy toward people with a learning disability has been marked by deep ambivalence.

Adjective modifier

  • moral: The moral ambivalence of the rogue narrative encouraged divergent political readings.
  • deep: Paul was faced with deep ambivalence toward the prevailing culture.
  • considerable: There was considerable ambivalence about the strain of living with an elderly parent.
  • certain: It led to a certain ambivalence in their attitudes toward the organized labor movement, despite their commitment to greater economic equality.
  • own: Thus, the greatest problem for population numbers came from the Sikh people's own ambivalence about their identity.
  • such: In the short term, such ambivalence is not a problem.

Preposition: toward

  • formalism: This ambivalence toward formalism is characteristic of American legal discourse.

Preposition: in

  • relation: To provide an understanding of the role of ambivalence in relation to genomics.
  • relationship: The growth of regulations provides another example of ambivalence in relationships.
  • mind: In retrospect the way the Community Empowerment Fund was implemented revealed an ambivalence in the minds of Scottish policy makers toward community empowerment.

Preposition: of

  • evaluation: To identify the ambivalence of evaluation as an expression of its complexity should not come as a surprise.

Preposition: with

  • regard: At the performance I saw there was a clear majority in favor of the first but rather more ambivalence with regard to the second.

Browse dictionary entries near ambivalence

  1. ambitious
  2. ambition
  3. ambit
  4. ambiguous
  5. ambiguity
  6. ambient
  7. ambience
  8. ambidextrous
  9. ambi-
  10. amberoid
  1. ambivalent
  2. ambiversion
  3. amble
  4. amblygonite
  5. amblyopia
  6. ambo
  7. amboceptor
  8. Amboina
  9. Amboise
  10. Ambon