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?

How to say hesitate in sign language?

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How to use hesitate in a sentence?

1. Vice President Joe Biden:

   If I can reach that conclusion that we can do it in a fashion that would still make it viable, I would not hesitate to do it.

2. Margrethe Vestager:

   With this sector inquiry my aim is to determine how widespread these barriers are and what effects they have on competition and consumers. If they are anti-competitive we will not hesitate to take enforcement action under EU antitrust rules.

3. Larry Kudlow:

   We've all learned that if he is not satisfied with these talks ... then he would not hesitate to increase tariffs.

4. Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu:

   If there is anyone who should be held to account, we will not at any given time hesitate.

5. Richard Neal:

   Anyone who knows me knows I would not hesitate to do the same, as would most career IRS public servants, regardless of any political preference, i take very seriously the duty of career civil servants to act with integrity and perform our duties impartially, even at the risk that someone will make a charge of bias.