Synonyms for hesitate
ˈhɛz ɪˌteɪthes·i·tate

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:3.5 / 2 votes

1. hesitateverb

   Synonyms:
   stammer, doubt, scruple, demur, falter, waver, mammer, deliberate

2. hesitateverb

   To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination.

   Synonyms:
   mammer, deliberate, demur, scruple, falter, stammer, waver, doubt

3. hesitateverb

   To stammer; to falter in speaking.

   Synonyms:
   deliberate, mammer, scruple, demur, waver, stammer, falter, doubt

4. hesitateverb

   To utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant manner.

   Synonyms:
   mammer, stammer, waver, deliberate, demur, doubt, falter, scruple

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. hesitate

   To fluctuate (Latin fluctus, a wave) is to move like a wave with alternate rise and fall. A pendulum oscillates; waves fluctuate or undulate; a light or a flame wavers; a frightened steed swerves from his course; a tool or weapon swerves from the mark or line; the temperature varies; the wind veers when it suddenly changes its direction. That which veers may steadily hold the new direction; that which oscillates, fluctuates, undulates, or wavers returns upon its way. As regards mental states, he who hesitates sticks (Latin hærere) on the verge of decision; he who wavers does not stick to a decision; he who vacillates decides now one way, and now another; one vacillates between contrasted decisions or actions; he may waver between decision and indecision, or between action and inaction. Persons hesitate, vacillate, waver; feelings fluctuate or vary. Compare SHAKE.

   Synonyms:
   fluctuate, oscillate, swerve, undulate, vacillate, vary, veer, waver

   Antonyms:
   abide, adhere, hold fast, persist, stand fast, stay, stick

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.5 / 2 votes

1. hesitate

   Synonyms:
   dubitate, waver, demur, scruple, falter, stammer, pause, doubt

   Antonyms:
   decide, determine, run, flow, career

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. hesitate, waver, waffleverb

   pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness

   "Authorities hesitate to quote exact figures"

   Synonyms:
   waver, quaver, fluctuate, waffle, weave, quiver, pause, flutter, flicker, flitter, falter, vacillate

2. hesitate, pauseverb

   interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

   "The speaker paused"

   Synonyms:
   waver, break, pause, intermit, waffle

Matched Categories

1. • Delay

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. hesitateverb

   Synonyms:
   pause, delay, demur, doubt, waver, vacillate, be undetermined, stop to consider, be in doubt, be in suspense, be doubtful

2. hesitateverb

   Synonyms:
   falter, stammer, have an impediment in speech

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. hesitateverb

   Synonyms:
   doubt, vacillate, falter, dubitate, waver, scruple, demur, deliberate

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "hesitate":

   waver, dither

How to pronounce hesitate?

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How to use hesitate in a sentence?

1. Anthony Fauci:

   I hesitate to make any broad statements about whether it is or is not quote' safe' for kids to come back to school, when you talk about children going back to school and their safety, it really depends on the level of viral activity, and the particular area that you're talking about. What happens all too often, understandably, but sometimes misleadingly, is that we talk about the country as a whole in a unidimensional way.

2. Elvis Picardo:

   It's an environment right now where investors are skittish and they're not going to hesitate to take profits on stocks that have moved higher.

3. Chief Executive Patrick Pouyanne:

   In the pharmaceutical industry, they have blockbusters. This is our blockbuster, and it will last for 40 years, we didn't hesitate one second. The impact of this signature goes well beyond the price of this asset, it was widely noticed and has raised our reputation in the Middle East.

4. Bart Murray:

   People need to know there are highly effective treatments for patients at high risk – and shouldn’t hesitate to ask their doctor to get treated.

5. Randy Kessler:

   Think with your brain and not with your heart, it’s easier to prevent problems than to escape them. Hesitate and don’t rush in, but think and consider the worse case scenario and what happens if anything goes wrong. Love makes you do things you don’t always think through.