as in unsure
having a mixture of opposing feelings
she's somewhat ambivalent about the relationship
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Recent Examples of ambivalent
This judgement is mine, for Herzog is far subtler and more ambivalent in his framing of Boyes, not fully suggesting in this film — made for the National Geographic with Disney money — that his subject is a loon but, equally, not leaving that interpretation off the table.
—
Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2025
Huston adapted the book himself — the first of three featuring the Hank Thompson character — tailoring Hank’s personality slightly to suit Butler’s ambivalent-golden-boy energy.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 24 Aug. 2025
Naomi is focused on continuing all the religious traditions, while her kids are more ambivalent; Kendra, who converted, feels more spiritually connected to it all than Shira does.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
And his attitude — ambivalent toward rock, toward fame, toward intimacy, toward his own McJob — is entirely '90s too.
—Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ambivalent
Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2025
Huston adapted the book himself — the first of three featuring the Hank Thompson character — tailoring Hank’s personality slightly to suit Butler’s ambivalent-golden-boy energy.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 24 Aug. 2025
Naomi is focused on continuing all the religious traditions, while her kids are more ambivalent; Kendra, who converted, feels more spiritually connected to it all than Shira does.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
And his attitude — ambivalent toward rock, toward fame, toward intimacy, toward his own McJob — is entirely '90s too.
—Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ambivalent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambivalent
Adjective
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She was frustrated by Highmark’s denials and unsure if her last resort, the external appeal, would yield results.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
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Daniel Palencia left Sunday’s 6-3 loss to the Nationals after giving up 5 runs with a right posterior shoulder injury, and Counsell was still unsure the next day whether Palencia could return before the end of the regular season.—
Jared Wyllys,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Trump, who has sometimes seemed conflicted about the anti-vax sentiment in his coalition that prevents him from claiming more credit for Operation Warp Speed, has thoroughly capitulated to the political reality that Kennedy is a useful ally.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
6 Sep. 2025
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There's a lot of conflicted emotions.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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When people aren’t afraid to flag phishing emails, report missteps or question suspicious behavior, organizations become more adaptive and resilient.—
Aliasgar Dohadwala,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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According to new research from SoFi, 44% of students and parents feel uninformed about student loans but are probably too afraid to ask questions.—
Brian Walsh,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Trump’s encouragement of Walker was enough to spur him into the race, though Republicans as a whole were hesitant, given Walker’s lack of experience and standing as an unknown quantity among GOP voters.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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Ty noted that some caregivers might be hesitant to open up about their caregiving experience in the workplace for fear of being passed over for promotions or other advancements.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In a fast-paced, digital, and uncertain world, wallpaper offers both emotional and sensory reprieve.—
Sophie Flaxman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Sep. 2025
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Right now, midfield, where Joe Willock’s long-term future is uncertain, and up front remain areas which could be improved upon.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ambivalent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambivalent. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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