ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary Builder›Words›A›ambivalence
ISEE/SSAThard
ambivalence
a state of having mixed or contradictory feelings about something
Synonyms
- indecision
- uncertainty
- hesitancy
Antonyms
- certainty
- conviction
ambivalence in a sentence
Her ambivalence about moving to a new city kept her awake at night.
He felt a strange ambivalence toward the promotion, excited about the title yet reluctant to leave his old team.
Where it comes from
From Latin ambi- 'both' + valentia 'strength'
Memory hook
AMBI (both) + valence (feeling) — feeling both ways at once.
Word parts
- ambi/amphi — both, on both sides, around
ambivalence: ambi- (both) + valent (strong, having power)
Read it in context
- The Archive in Wood Science
Practice ambivalence in the app