hesitant

[hez-i-tuhnt]

adjective

1. hesitating; undecided, doubtful, or disinclined.

2. lacking readiness of speech.

hesitant

/ ˈhɛzɪtənt /

adjective

1. wavering, hesitating, or irresolute

Other Word Forms

• hesitance noun
• hesitantly adverb
• nonhesitant adjective
• nonhesitantly adverb
• unhesitant adjective
• unhesitantly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of hesitant¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin haesitant-, stem of haesitāns “faltering,” present participle of haesitāre “to falter, hesitate,” literally, “to stick repeatedly,” from haerēre “to stick, cling”

Example Sentences

Lee also said companies would be "very hesitant" about investing in the US following the raid.

From BBC

South Korean companies will be "very hesitant" about investing in the US following a massive immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in the state of Georgia last week, President Lee Jae-myung has said.

From BBC

In most districts, leaders “are hesitant to address this publicly for fear of attracting more scrutiny and making the issue even more difficult to manage,” Flint said.

From Los Angeles Times

Some Global South leaders have been hesitant in condemning the Russian war against Ukraine.

From BBC

Their goal involved two passes from the edge of their own penalty area, hesitant defending from Rangers centre-backs and a brilliant finish.

From BBC

Related Words

• afraid 
• averse 
• doubtful 
• halting 
• indecisive 
• loath 
• reluctant 
• shy 
• skeptical 
• slow 
• tentative 
• timid 
• unsure 
• unwilling