Definition of Ambivalence

1. Noun. Mixed feelings or emotions.

Exact synonyms: Ambivalency
Generic synonyms: Feeling
Specialized synonyms: Conflict
Derivative terms: Ambivalent

Definition of Ambivalence

1. Noun. The coexistence of opposing attitudes or feelings (such as love and hate) towards a person, object or idea. ¹

2. Noun. A state of uncertainty or indecisiveness. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Ambivalence

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Ambivalence

1. The coexistence of antithetical attitudes or emotions toward a given person or thing, or idea, as in the simultaneous feeling and expression of love and hate toward the same person. Origin: ambi-+ L. Valentia, strength (05 Mar 2000)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Ambivalence

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

Literary usage of Ambivalence

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

1. Improving Compliance With Alcoholism Treatment edited by Kathleen Carroll (2000)
"Explore ambivalence Maintain Relevance to Clients Needs in Research Protocols manage her fear well enough to attend group consistently but did not discuss ..."

2. Totem and Taboo: Resemblances Between the Psychic Lives of Savages and Neurotics by Sigmund Freud (1919)
"... TABOO AND THE ambivalence OF EMOTIONS TABOO is a Polynesian word, the translation of which provides difficulties for us because we no longer possess the ..."

3. The Dream Problem by Alphonse Maeder (1916)
"4 219 The Taboo and the ambivalence of Emotional Excitations. S. FREUD. Amenhotep IV (Echnaton). Notes on the Psychoanalytic Interpretation of his Some ..."

4. Taboo and Genetics: A Study of the Biological, Sociological and by Melvin Moses Knight (1920)
"... Freud's analogy between the dualistic attitude toward the tabooed object and the ambivalence of the emotions; The understanding of this dualism together ..."

5. Jobless, Moneyless, & Free: Prospects for a New Social Order / Y Walter Prytulak by Prytulak, Walter (1980)
"... 13 Man's ambivalence Towards Paying Taxes Avoiding the payment of income taxes is the principal sign of man's ambivalence toward the monetary system. ..."

6. Monographic Medicine by William Robie Patten Emerson, Guido Guerrini, William Brown, Wendell Christopher Phillips, John Whitridge Williams, John Appleton Swett, Hans Günther, Mario Mariotti, Hugh Grant Rowell (1916)
"By "ambivalence"' is meant the giving of both a negative and a positive ... In "ambivalence of will," the patient may try to eat and not to eat at the same ..."

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