hesitant
Slow to commit
Hesitant describes someone who pauses or holds back, uncertain whether to proceed.
A hesitant speaker stumbles over words; a hesitant investor delays committing money.
The word suggests temporary uncertainty rather than firm refusal: She was hesitant to criticize her boss directly.
Someone hesitant about a decision hasn't yet made up their mind.
Not having chosen
- vacillatingSwaying between choices
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- irresoluteLacking firmness of purpose
- tornPulled into pieces
conflicted · ambivalent · wishy-washy · on the fence · shilly-shallying · dithering · flip-flopping · oscillating
Inclined to question claims
- unconvincedNot yet believing
- dubiousOf uncertain reliability
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- uncertainNot firmly known
mistrustful · distrustful · incredulous · unsure · suspicious · unpersuaded · second-guessing · leery
Troubled by uncertainty
- apprehensiveFearful of future events
- uneasyTroubled, not calm
- worriedTroubled by uncertainty
- fearfulFull of fright
timorous · jittery · trepidatious · fretful · on edge · skittish · antsy · faltering
Guardedly alert
- carefulExercising caution and attention
- guardedWary and restrained
- circumspectCarefully considering consequences
- prudentExercising sound judgment
chary · watchful · vigilant · discreet · measured · gingerly · calculated · deliberate
Marked by hesitation
- falteringBecoming unsteady or weak
- stumblingWalking clumsily, almost falling
- stammeringInvoluntary speech repetition
- stutteringInvoluntary speech disfluency
broken · stalling · delaying · lingering · lagging · dawdling · slow · measured
Opposed to participating
- resistantWithstanding external forces
- loathStrongly reluctant
- disinclinedAverse to acting
- averseOpposed or unwilling
unenthusiastic · half-hearted · grudging · reticent · demurring · foot-dragging · holding back · dragging feet
undecided
Not having chosen
- vacillatingSwaying between choices
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- irresoluteLacking firmness of purpose
torn · conflicted · ambivalent · wishy-washy · on the fence · shilly-shallying · dithering · flip-flopping · oscillating · uncommitted
skeptical
Inclined to question claims
- unconvincedNot yet believing
- dubiousOf uncertain reliability
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
uncertain · mistrustful · distrustful · incredulous · unsure · suspicious · unpersuaded · second-guessing · leery · wary
anxious
Troubled by uncertainty
- apprehensiveFearful of future events
- uneasyTroubled, not calm
- worriedTroubled by uncertainty
fearful · timorous · jittery · trepidatious · fretful · on edge · skittish · antsy · faltering · stammering
wary
Guardedly alert
- carefulExercising caution and attention
- guardedWary and restrained
- circumspectCarefully considering consequences
prudent · chary · watchful · vigilant · discreet · measured · gingerly · calculated · deliberate · tentative
halting
Marked by hesitation
- falteringBecoming unsteady or weak
- stumblingWalking clumsily, almost falling
- stammeringInvoluntary speech repetition
stuttering · broken · stalling · delaying · lingering · lagging · dawdling · slow · measured · drawn-out
unwilling
Opposed to participating
- resistantWithstanding external forces
- loathStrongly reluctant
- disinclinedAverse to acting
averse · unenthusiastic · half-hearted · grudging · reticent · demurring · foot-dragging · holding back · dragging feet · uncooperative
- indecisionindecision, indecisiveness, conflicted, indecisive, wavering
- unwillingreluctant, resistant, averse, disinclined, loath
- hedginghedging, hedge, hedges, hedge bet, qualifier
- emotionsjoy, anger, fear, sadness, love
- body language descriptorsopen, closed, tense, relaxed, stiff
- cautioncareful, be careful, cautious, caution, watch out
- vaccine hesitancyReluctance to accept immunization
- without hesitation
hesitate, hesitation, hesitating, hesitancy, hesitantly, hesitated, hesitates, hesitations, unhesitating