ambivalent

adjective
UK: /æmˈbɪvələnt/
US: /æmˈbɪvələnt/

  1. Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone; being uncertain or unable to decide about something.

    1. I'm ambivalent about moving to a new city for a job. [ ] [ ]
    2. She remained ambivalent about her marriage, unsure if she should stay or leave. [ ] [ ]

  2. Simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings (as attraction and repulsion) toward an object, person, or action.

    1. He felt ambivalent about his friend's success because it made him question his own choices. [ ] [ ]
    2. The public is deeply ambivalent about this issue, torn between different viewpoints. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

uncertain doubtful equivocal hesitant undecided conflicted

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "ambivalent" in English means: Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone; being uncertain or unable to decide about something., Simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings (as attraction and repulsion) toward an object, person, or action..

The phonetic transcription of "ambivalent" is /æmˈbɪvələnt/ in British English and /æmˈbɪvələnt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "ambivalent": uncertain, doubtful, equivocal, hesitant, undecided, conflicted.

Example usage of "ambivalent": "I'm ambivalent about moving to a new city for a job.". More examples on the page.