What is another word for hesitate?

Synonyms for hesitate
ˈhɛz ɪˌteɪthes·i·tate

This thesaurus page includes all potential synonyms, words with the same meaning and similar terms for the word hesitate.

Wiktionary3.5 / 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 Antonyms5.0 / 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 Antonyms3.5 / 2 votes

  1. hesitate

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

    Antonyms:
    decide, determine, run, flow, career

Princeton's WordNet5.0 / 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

Dictionary of English Synonymes0.0 / 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 Words0.0 / 0 votes

  1. hesitateverb

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

PPDB, the paraphrase database0.0 / 0 votes

  1. List of paraphrases for "hesitate":

    waver, dither

How to pronounce hesitate?

How to say hesitate in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

rankingword
#1618break
#3558vary
#3643doubt
#10611pause
#12724hesitate
#15634deliberate
#17716weave
#23670waffle
#29664flicker
#35564fluctuate
#37891flutter
#40610veer
#43658quiver
#56544falter
#60871swerve
#64040waver
#75259dither
#76976oscillate
#106648stammer
#120240scruple
#157222demur
#189583flitter
#204476undulate
#236377quaver
#241885vacillate
#318728intermit

How to use hesitate in a sentence?

  1. Le Maire:

    This is the moment of truth for the Franco-German relationship, the hour of reckoning for the future of the euro zone, either in the next few hours the president and the chancellor reach an agreement and accomplish a significant step in strengthening the euro zone. Or they are unable to and we will return, and I don't hesitate to say so, to turbulent times for the euro zone and for the European Union more widely.

  2. Wissous Mayor Richard Trinquier:

    I didn't hesitate a shadow of a second.

  3. Micky Morrison:

    But even my 12-year-old son doesn't hesitate to undress in front of me. I figure that he will one day, and that's OK, perhaps one day he will avert his eyes or become uncomfortable with my nudity as well. And that's OK, too.

  4. Bennie Thompson:

    There's a willingness to work with her on our part, but we won't hesitate if she chooses not to come to issue a subpoena.

  5. Siobhan Morden:

    I don't think the market wants any more issuance in the remaining months of the Kirchner administration, if there is a legal threat that will cause them to hesitate (to issue), that will provide some natural stability.


Translations for hesitate

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