Definition of Ambivalent

1. Adjective. Uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow. "Was ambivalent about having children"

Similar to: Incertain, Uncertain, Unsure
Derivative terms: Ambivalence

Definition of Ambivalent

1. Adjective. Simultaneously experiencing or expressing opposing or contradictory feelings, beliefs, or motivations. ¹

2. Adjective. Alternately having one opinion or feeling, and then the opposite. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Ambivalent

1. [adj]

Medical Definition of Ambivalent

1. Relating to or characterised by ambivalence. (05 Mar 2000)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Ambivalent

ambitionlessness
ambitions
ambitious
ambitiously
ambitiousness
ambitiousnesses
ambitransitive
ambitransitivity
ambits
ambitty
ambitus
ambituses
ambivalence
ambivalences
ambivalency
ambivalent (current term)
ambivalently
ambiversion
ambiversions
ambiversive
ambivert
ambiverts
amble
ambled
ambler
amblers
ambles
ambling
amblingly
amblings

Literary usage of Ambivalent

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage by Inc. Merriam-Webster (1994)
"Yale Rev., March 1954 Both ambivalent and ambiguous may connote duality: To adopt the Committee's own ambivalent phrasing, ..."

2. Useful Knowledge: The American Philosophical Society Millennium Program by Alexander G. Bearn, American Philosophical Society (1999)
"... Scientists and the Public: An ambivalent Partnership* PAUL L. BERG Cahill Professor in Cancer Research and Professor of Biochemistry Stanford University ..."

3. Environmental Education, Ethics and Action in Southern Africa by Johan Hattingh, Human Sciences Research Council, Heila Lotz-sisitka, EEASA., EEASA (2002)
"ambivalent Globalising Influences in a Local Context: The Case of an Environmental Education Practitioner's Experience in Zambia Justin ..."

4. Beyond the Charter School Reform: A Study of 10 California School Districtsedited by Amy Stuart Wells edited by Amy Stuart Wells (1998)
"... the promise of student outcome accountability may be deceptive. What then, does accountability mean? FINDING #2 School boards are ambivalent about ..."

5. Assessing Alcohol Problems: A Guide for Clinicians and Researchers by John P. Allen, Megan Columbus (1997)
"The ambivalent group appears to be reluctant or ambivalent about changing their behavior. The participation group seems to be highly invested and involved ..."

6. Totem and Taboo: Resemblances Between the Psychic Lives of Savages and Neurotics by Sigmund Freud (1919)
"With the decline of this ambivalence the taboo, as the compromise symptom of the ambivalent conflict, also slowly disappeared. Neurotics who are compelled ..."

7. Biological, Social, and Organizational Components of Success for Women in by National Academy of Sciences (U.S., National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine (U.S. (2006)
"—Susan Fiske Fiske and Peter Glick have developed a theory of ambivalent sexism, ... Both can be measured with the ambivalent Sexism Inventory, ..."

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