English Explanatory Dictionary

ambivalent

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Simultaneously experiencing or expressing opposing or contradictory feelings, beliefs, motivations, or meanings.
  2. Alternately being or having one opinion or feeling, and then the opposite.

Pronunciation

/æmˈbɪv.ə.lənt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-ambivalent.wav en-us-ambivalent.ogg en-au-ambivalent.ogg

Word forms

ambivalent more ambivalent most ambivalent

Etymology

Back-formation from ambivalence, from German Ambivalenz, from Latin ambi- (“in two ways”) + valeō (“be strong”); equivalent to ambi- + -valent. Compare ambivert.

Synonyms

conflicted uncertain undecided unresolved vacillating fluctuating wavering

Related words

ambiguous ambivalence equivalent

Derived words

ambivalently nonambivalent preambivalent unambivalent
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