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hesitant Definition

hesi·tant (hez′i tənt)

adjective

hesitating or undecided; vacillating; doubtful

Etymology: L haesitans: see hesitancy

hesitant Related Forms
hes′i·tantly adverb
hesitant Synonyms

hesitant

modif.

  1. Doubtful

    vacillating, wavering, irresolute, indecisive; see doubtful 2, reluctant.

  2. Slow

    delaying, faltering, reluctant, disinclined; see reluctant, slow 2, unwilling. See syn. study at reluctant.

hesitant Usage Examples

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • make: This in turn will put upward pressure on inflation and may make the MPC more hesitant to cut interest rates.

Infinitive complement

  • accept: However, some debtors are hesitant to accept foreign checks and will not authorize credit until they clear.
  • talk: You therefore understand why I am a little hesitant to talk tonight about the Nantgarw dances.
  • go: PETA: What would you say to people who are hesitant to go vegetarian?
  • say: I'm hesitant to say more powerful but I will, shouldn't be a problem.
  • do: His affection for her grows to the point where he's hesitant to do the job he's been sent to do.
  • take: She may also be hesitant to take action against her partner for fear of losing her right to remain in the UK.

Modifying Another Word

  • somewhat: In Hounslow and Ealing generally, the market is somewhat hesitant, although there is still residual confidence.
  • slightly: For the slightly hesitant we have a recipe leaflet with very easy to follow instructions for cooking trout.
  • rather: Yes some doubted but the word for doubt here does not mean unbelief but rather hesitant.
  • little: Jarai was more than a little hesitant at the prospect of 2008 entry.
  • very: Back to your original question: I'm very hesitant to blindly throw mail away.
  • too: Too hesitant, and didn't clear his lines well.

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: Far from starving the beast, the Tories seem hesitant even to put it on a diet.
  • remain: Across most of Europe, however, villagers remained hesitant despite legal systems which seemed to encourage then to take action.
  • feel: You should never feel hesitant to make a call.
  • become: However... 4 [ Closeup side view of Kikyou. ] Kikyou I have become hesitant.

Modifies a noun

  • step: She took two hesitant steps to the door of the room.
  • start: Dave made a hesitant start, protecting a heavily strapped knee, which clearly caused him some distraction later in the evening.
  • beginning: After a hesitant beginning, and despite becoming a tourist attraction, it was uneconomical and within six months the railroad was bankrupt.