ambivalence

noun
UK: /æmˈbɪv.ə.ləns/
US: /æmˈbɪv.ə.ləns/

  1. The state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.

    1. Her ambivalence towards him was obvious to everyone. [ ] [ ]
    2. The company's ambivalence about the new policy created confusion among the employees. [ ] [ ]

  2. Uncertainty or fluctuation, especially when caused by inability to make a choice or by a simultaneous desire to say or do two conflicting things.

    1. He felt ambivalence about accepting the new job offer. [ ] [ ]
    2. The nation's ambivalence regarding the war was reflected in the divided public opinion. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

mixed feelings uncertainty doubt hesitation equivocation

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "ambivalence" in English means: The state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone., Uncertainty or fluctuation, especially when caused by inability to make a choice or by a simultaneous desire to say or do two conflicting things..

The phonetic transcription of "ambivalence" is /æmˈbɪv.ə.ləns/ in British English and /æmˈbɪv.ə.ləns/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "ambivalence": mixed feelings, uncertainty, doubt, hesitation, equivocation.

Example usage of "ambivalence": "Her ambivalence towards him was obvious to everyone.". More examples on the page.