Synonyms for hesitate
Definitions
- v. 1
To stammer; to falter in speaking.
- v. 2
To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination.
He hesitated whether to accept the offer or not; men often hesitate in forming a judgment.
Related words
- Word family
- hesitant hesitater hesitating hesitation
- Is a kind of
- doubt stop pause
Forms
- Past participle
- hesitated
e.g. hesitated → wavered, scrupled, doubted, boggled…
Choose the right word
Persons hesitate, vacillate, waver; feelings fluctuate or vary.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- waver We will also not waver in our values and our principles as a nation.
- scruple No scruple held him back from making this attempt.
- falter Hold the weight above your head until your arms begin to falter.
By length
- 3 letters
- hem1, haw1
- 4 letters
- halt1
- 5 letters
- doubt1, stick1, delay2, pause1, hover2, waver2, demur2
- 6 letters
- waffle2, falter2, boggle2, dither2, mammer
- 7 letters
- stumble2, stutter2, stammer2, scruple2, stickle2
- 9 letters
- fluctuate3, vacillate3
- 10 letters
- deliberate4, balbutiate
- 11 letters
- balbucinate
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (delay2 = 2 syllables).