hesitant

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Entry-level workers often feel a lack of professional leverage and a concern that self-advocacy might cost them a position, which can result in a hesitant approach when discussing salary.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

Doctors have been hesitant to order the test for patients because there aren’t currently any approved drugs to directly lower the particle.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

Coming off of 2025, market volatility saw farmers across the country hesitant to buy their year’s fertilizer early, opting instead to buy it closer to the start of the spring growing season.

From Salon • May 15, 2026

When the AI boom began, many chipmakers were at first hesitant to commit significant capital to new capacity after a sharp boom-bust cycle following the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

His speech, once effusive and rapid, was hesitant and fitful; the words emerged with a sudden, surprising force, as if he were spitting out strange pips of food that had been put into his mouth.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee