I'm rather hesitant about asking him a favor.
Source: tatoeba (68133)
Hesitant
/ˈhɛzɪtənt/
Synonyms for "hesitant" (167 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (34)
Noun(2 words)
address oral inarticulacybalking
afraidagnosticambiguousambivalentaversebackwardbashfulbogglingcannycapriciouscarefulcautiouschancychangeablecharycircumspectdeliberatedemurringdiceydiffident
Show 4 more words
Adjective(5 words)
Strong matches (50)
doubtfuldoubtingdubiousequivocalerraticfalteringfearfulficklefluctuatinggingerlyguardedhaltingheedfulhesitatingincalculableincredulousindecisiveindefiniteindemonstrableindisposed
Show 13 more words
insecureirresolutejibbingjudiciousleaving out nothingloathlukewarmmealy-mouthedmindfulmodestnoncommittalof two mindson guard
Noun(8 words)
Adjective(5 words)
Interjection(1 words)
Related words (83)
overlooking no possibilitypausepawkypoliticpolysemousprudentqualmishqueasyregardfulreluctantsafescruplingscrupulousself-consciousshilly shallyingshilly-shallyingshrinkingshyskepticalslow
Show 41 more words
slow to actsqueamishstammeringstickingsticklingstrainingstutteringtentativethoroughtimidtouch-and-gotremulousunaccountableunadventurousuncertainuncommunicativeunconfirmableunconvincedundaringundecidedundivinableuneagerunenterprisingunforeseeableunpersuadedunprecipitateunpredictableunprovableunresolvedunsettledunsureunverifiableunwillingvacillatevacillatingvacillatoryvariablewaveringweakwhimsicalwobbly
Adjective(13 words)
Noun(5 words)
Verb(4 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: address oral inarticulacy, afraid, agnostic, ambiguous, ambivalent.
- Sentence evidence is available for hesitant, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "hesitant".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "hesitant"
Keep "hesitant" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "hesitant" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "hesitant", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "hesitant" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
5 entriesMore specific
4 entrieshesitant answerreluctant respondersoft spoken responsetentative decision
Collocations
5 entrieshesitant answerhesitant decisionhesitant learnerhesitant responsehesitant student
Inflections
2 entriesmore hesitantmost hesitant
Derivations
6 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
11 total sentences available.
I'm a little hesitant to ask a favor of that person.
Source: tatoeba (403372)
I'm a little hesitant about asking her for a favor.
Source: tatoeba (403373)
Tom is hesitant to visit Mary in the hospital.
Source: tatoeba (1093473)
Showing 4 of 11 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "hesitant"?
Closest matches include address oral inarticulacy, afraid, agnostic, ambiguous, ambivalent.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "hesitant"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.