Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Exhibiting or feeling ambivalence.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective undecided as to whether or not to take a proposed course of action; having feelings both for and against the proposed action.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective
Simultaneously experiencing or expressingopposing orcontradictory feelings ,beliefs , ormotivations . - adjective
Alternately having oneopinion or feeling, and then theopposite .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Bleuler has used the term ambivalent, thus comparing these individuals to a chemical element having two bonds and impelled to unite with two substances.
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I have long been of two minds about the word ambivalent.
The Right Word in the Right Place at the Right Time William Safire 2004
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I have long been of two minds about the word ambivalent.
The Right Word in the Right Place at the Right Time William Safire 2004
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As a whole, they have no official candidate slates, have not rallied behind any particular national leader, have little money on hand, and remain ambivalent about their goals and the political process in general.
The contradictions of the Tea Party Jonathan Capehart 2010
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As a whole, they have no official candidate slates, have not rallied behind any particular national leader, have little money on hand, and remain ambivalent about their goals and the political process in general.
Gauging the scope of the tea party movement in America Amy Gardner 2010
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That the public might be ambivalent is not surprising, given how confusing the actual events have proven to be.
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OK so David Davies avoided humiliation but I remain ambivalent/mystified by the whole by-election.
The Newmania surveillance satellite Newmania 2008
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Still, some guidebook contributors remain ambivalent about the role they play.
Mexico By the Book 1999
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Still, some guidebook contributors remain ambivalent about the role they play.
Mexico By the Book 1999
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The Dalai Lama’s comments underscore his determination to pursue a conciliatory approach towards Beijing, despite what he described as the ambivalent and contradictory messages by China.
Louises commented on the word ambivalent
I'm ambivalent about the whole thing. I'ts all ambivalence, now, right? Grey areas. Morality reduced to approximations. From "The Last Werewolf" by Glen Duncan
February 26, 2012
Jimmydiamond commented on the word ambivalent
an emotional seesaw of indifferance
October 7, 2012
mohitanand commented on the word ambivalent
mixed or conflicting emotions about something
Sam was ambivalent about studying for the exam because doing so ate up a lot of his time, yet he was able to improve his analytical skills.
October 11, 2016