Indecision in speech or action.

synonyms: vacillation, wavering.

Roget 475: uncertainty, incertitude, doubt; doubtfulness etc. adj.; dubiety, dubitation^†, dubitancy^†, dubitousness^†.    hesitation, suspense; perplexity, embarrassment, dilemma, bewilderment; timidity etc. (fear) 860; vacillation etc. 605; diaporesis^†, indetermination.    vagueness etc. adj.; haze, fog; obscurity etc. (darkness) 421; ambiguity etc. (double meaning) 520; contingency, dependence, dependency, double contingency, possibility upon a possibility; open question etc. (question) 461; onus probandi [Lat.]; blind bargain, pig in a poke, leap in the dark, something or other; needle in a haystack, needle in a bottle of hay; roving commission.    precariousness etc. adj.; fallibility.    ... show more

Roget 583: inarticulateness; stammering etc. v.; hesitation etc. v.; impediment in one's speech; titubancy^†, traulism^†; whisper etc. (faint sound) 405; lisp, drawl, tardiloquence^†; nasal tone, nasal accent; twang; falsetto etc. (want of voice) 581; broken voice, broken accents, broken sentences.    brogue etc. 563; slip of the tongue, lapsus linouae [Lat.].    ... show more

Roget 860: fear, timidity, diffidence, want of confidence; apprehensiveness, fearfulness etc. adj.; solicitude, anxiety, care, apprehension, misgiving; feeze [U.S.]; mistrust etc. (doubt) 485; suspicion, qualm; hesitation etc. (irresolution) 605.    nervousness, restlessness etc. adj.; inquietude, disquietude, worry, concern; batophobia^†; heartquake^†; flutter, trepidation, fear and trembling, perturbation, tremor, quivering, shaking, trembling, throbbing heart, palpitation, ague fit, cold sweat; abject fear etc. (cowardice) 862; mortal funk, heartsinking^†, despondency; despair etc. 859.    fright; affright, affrightment^†; boof alarm [U.S.], dread, awe, terror, horror, dismay, consternation, panic, scare, stampede (of horses). intimidation, terrorism, reign of terror.    [Object of fear] bug bear, bugaboo; scarecrow; hobgoblin etc. (demon) 980; nightmare, Gorgon, mormo^†, ogre, Hurlothrumbo^†, raw head and bloody bones, fee-faw-fum, bete noire [Fr.], enfant terrible [Fr.].    alarmist etc. (coward) 862.    ... show more

Dutch: weifeling, aarzeling
Polish: wahliwość, chwiejność

A certain degree of unwillingness:
— After some hesitation he agreed.

synonyms: disinclination, hesitancy, indisposition, reluctance.

Roget 603: unwillingness etc. adj.; indisposition, indisposedness^†; disinclination, aversation^†; nolleity^†, nolition^†; renitence^†, renitency; reluctance; indifference etc. 866; backwardness etc. adj.; slowness etc. 275; want of alacrity, want of readiness; indocility etc. (obstinacy) 606^†.    scrupulousness, scrupulosity; qualms of conscience, twinge of conscience; delicacy, demur, scruple, qualm, shrinking, recoil; hesitation etc. (irresolution) 605; fastidiousness etc. 868.    averseness etc. (dislike) 867^†; dissent etc. 489; refusal etc. 764.    ... show more

Roget 605: irresolution, infirmity of purpose, indecision; indetermination, undetermination^†; unsettlement; uncertainty etc. 475; demur, suspense; hesitating etc. v., hesitation, hesitancy; vacillation; changeableness etc. 149; fluctuation; alternation etc. (oscillation) 314; caprice etc. 608.    fickleness, levity, legerete [Fr.]; pliancy etc. (softness) 324; weakness; timidity etc. 860; cowardice etc. 862; half measures.    waverer, ass between two bundles of hay; shuttlecock, butterfly; wimp; doughface [U.S.].    ... show more

Dutch: weerzin, aversie, afkeer, tegenzin, balorigheid, onwil, onwilligheid

The act of pausing uncertainly:
— There was a hesitation in his speech.

synonyms: falter, faltering, waver.

Polish: zająknienie, zacięcie, zająknięcie