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Hesitancy: alternatives and connections

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Hesitancy

The act of hesitating, or pausing to consider; slowness in deciding; vacillation; also, the manner of one who hesitates.

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54 useful connections shown 12 reviewed relationships and 42 broader connections.
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Reviewed alternatives and contrasts

These links were deliberately created. Use the interchangeability score and guidance to judge whether a word will work in your sentence.

Broader term 3

Diffidence 76% connected

The state of being diffident; distrust; want of confidence; doubt of the power, ability, or disposition of others.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

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Involuntariness 76% connected

The quality or state of being involuntary; unwillingness; automatism.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

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Self-distrust 76% connected

Want of confidence in one' self; diffidence.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

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Narrower term 1

Sloth 76% connected

Slowness; tardiness.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a narrower or more specific lexical category.

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Derivationally related 4

Hesitant 74% connected

Not prompt in deciding or acting; hesitating.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

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Hesitant 74% connected

Not prompt in deciding or acting; hesitating.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

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Hesitate 74% connected

To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination; as, he hesitated whether to accept the offer…

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Definition Compare both words
Hesitate 74% connected

To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination; as, he hesitated whether to accept the offer…

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Definition Compare both words

Synonym 4

Disinclination 92% connected

The state of being disinclined; want of propensity, desire, or affection; slight aversion or dislike; indisposition.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

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Hesitation 92% connected

The act of hesitating; suspension of opinion or action; doubt; vacillation.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Definition Compare both words
Indisposition 92% connected

The state of being indisposed; disinclination; as, the indisposition of two substances to combine.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

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Reluctance 92% connected

Alt. of Reluctancy

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Definition Compare both words
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Words from the same subject

These terms belong to the same specialist field or topic. They help you explore the subject, but they are not automatically synonyms.

Electricity noun · 85% connection

keen and shared excitement; "the stage crackled with electricity whenever she was on it"

Used in the same subject area: Emotion and tone, Environmental science, Negative emotions.
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Care noun · 84% connection

a cause for feeling concern; "his major care was the illness of his wife"

Used in the same subject area: Emotion and tone, Environmental science, Negative emotions.
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Conservation noun · 78% connection

the preservation and careful management of the environment and of natural resources

Used in the same subject area: Environmental science, Conservation and biodiversity.
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Area noun · 78% connection

a particular environment or walk of life; "his social sphere is limited"; "it was a closed area of employment"; "he's out of my orbit"

Used in the same subject area: Environmental science, Conservation and biodiversity.
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Arena noun · 78% connection

a particular environment or walk of life; "his social sphere is limited"; "it was a closed area of employment"; "he's out of my orbit"

Used in the same subject area: Environmental science, Conservation and biodiversity.
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Biodiversity noun · 78% connection

the diversity of plant and animal life in a particular habitat (or in the world as a whole); "a high level of biodiversity is desirabl…

Used in the same subject area: Environmental science, Conservation and biodiversity.
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Bionomic adjective · 78% connection

of or relating to the science of ecology; "ecological research"

Used in the same subject area: Environmental science, Conservation and biodiversity.
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Bionomical adjective · 78% connection

of or relating to the science of ecology; "ecological research"

Used in the same subject area: Environmental science, Conservation and biodiversity.
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Book verb · 78% connection

arrange for and reserve (something for someone else) in advance; "reserve me a seat on a flight"; "The agent booked tickets to the sho…

Used in the same subject area: Environmental science, Conservation and biodiversity.
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Condition noun · 78% connection

a state at a particular time; "a condition (or state) of disrepair"; "the current status of the arms negotiations"

Used in the same subject area: Environmental science, Conservation and biodiversity.
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Corridor noun · 78% connection

an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it

Used in the same subject area: Environmental science, Conservation and biodiversity.
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Defunctness noun · 78% connection

no longer in existence; "the extinction of a species"

Used in the same subject area: Environmental science, Conservation and biodiversity.
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Domain noun · 78% connection

a particular environment or walk of life; "his social sphere is limited"; "it was a closed area of employment"; "he's out of my orbit"

Used in the same subject area: Environmental science, Conservation and biodiversity.
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Ecologic adjective · 78% connection

of or relating to the science of ecology; "ecological research"

Used in the same subject area: Environmental science, Conservation and biodiversity.
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Ecological adjective · 78% connection

of or relating to the science of ecology; "ecological research"

Used in the same subject area: Environmental science, Conservation and biodiversity.
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Endangered adjective · 78% connection

(of flora or fauna) in imminent danger of extinction; "an endangered species"

Used in the same subject area: Environmental science, Conservation and biodiversity.
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Extinction noun · 78% connection

no longer in existence; "the extinction of a species"

Used in the same subject area: Environmental science, Conservation and biodiversity.
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Field noun · 78% connection

a particular environment or walk of life; "his social sphere is limited"; "it was a closed area of employment"; "he's out of my orbit"

Used in the same subject area: Environmental science, Conservation and biodiversity.
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Words connected by meaning

Their definitions overlap or refer to similar ideas. Use these to widen your search, then compare the exact meanings.

Arbiter noun · 78% connection

Any person who has the power of judging and determining, or ordaining, without control; one whose power of deciding and governing is n…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: hesitating, pausing, consider, slowness, deciding.
Definition Compare
Arbitration noun · 78% connection

the act of deciding as an arbiter; giving authoritative judgment; "they submitted their disagreement to arbitration"

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: hesitating, pausing, consider, slowness, deciding.
Definition Compare
Arbitrator noun · 78% connection

One who has the power of deciding or prescribing without control; a ruler; a governor.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: hesitating, pausing, consider, slowness, deciding.
Definition Compare
Arbitrement noun · 78% connection

the act of deciding as an arbiter; giving authoritative judgment; "they submitted their disagreement to arbitration"

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: hesitating, pausing, consider, slowness, deciding.
Definition Compare
Attribute verb · 78% connection

To ascribe; to consider (something) as due or appropriate (to); to refer, as an effect to a cause; to impute; to assign; to consider a…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: hesitating, pausing, consider, slowness, deciding.
Definition Compare
Backward adjective · 78% connection

Unwilling; averse; reluctant; hesitating; loath.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: hesitating, pausing, consider, slowness, deciding.
Definition Compare
Coy adjective · 78% connection

Soft; gentle; hesitating.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: hesitating, pausing, consider, slowness, deciding.
Definition Compare
Decree noun · 78% connection

An order from one having authority, deciding what is to be done by a subordinate; also, a determination by one having power, deciding…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: hesitating, pausing, consider, slowness, deciding.
Definition Compare
Deliberate verb · 78% connection

To take counsel with one's self; to weigh the arguments for and against a proposed course of action; to reflect; to consider; to hesit…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: hesitating, pausing, consider, slowness, deciding.
Definition Compare
Diagnosis noun · 78% connection

The art or act of recognizing the presence of disease from its signs or symptoms, and deciding as to its character; also, the decision…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: hesitating, pausing, consider, slowness, deciding.
Definition Compare
Dilatoriness noun · 78% connection

The quality of being dilatory; lateness; slowness; tardiness; sluggishness.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: hesitating, pausing, consider, slowness, deciding.
Definition Compare
Doubtful adjective · 78% connection

Not settled in opinion; undetermined; wavering; hesitating in belief; also used, metaphorically, of the body when its action is affect…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: hesitating, pausing, consider, slowness, deciding.
Definition Compare
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