Synonyms for hesitancy

Most common

hesitation · hesitance · reluctance · indecision

All synonyms

Noun

Antonyms

assurance, determination, willingness

All antonyms of hesitancy →

Definitions

1. n. 1

   A pausing or halting before beginning a task, often as a result of some fear or uncertainty about the outcome.

Forms

Plural

hesitancies → hesitations, hesitances, reluctances, indecisions…

Example sentences

• hesitation Mary jumped into the icy water without hesitation.
• reluctance He feels no reluctance in acknowledging errors.
• indecision His indecision sowed the seeds of future trouble.

Popularity over time

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

7 letters

scruple²

8 letters

suspense²

9 letters

hesitance

10 letters

hesitation⁴, reluctance³, indecision⁴

11 letters

vacillation⁴

12 letters

irresolution

13 letters

indisposition

14 letters

disinclination⁵

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (scruple² = 2 syllables).