Words to use

ambivalent

/æmˈbɪv.ə.lənt/ · adjective

Having mixed or conflicting feelings about something.

Tone

Reflective and emotionally precise.

When it earns its place

Use ambivalent when...

Use it when you hold positive and negative feelings at the same time.

Three natural examples

01I feel ambivalent about leaving the city.
02She was ambivalent about sharing such a private story.
03His response was warm, but his feelings remained ambivalent.

Watch the fit

When to choose another word

Ambivalent means pulled in different directions, not uninterested. Indifferent is the word for not caring.

Common slip

Meaning is only half the job

People often use ambivalent to mean uncertain. Mixed feelings are the heart of the word.

Use it today

Name one choice about which you feel genuinely ambivalent.

At the time you chose, Idiolect would remind you to say the sentence back. The AI assesses whether the word fits what you meant.

Download on the App Store