Ambivalent

Pronunciation: /æmˈbɪvələnt/

Definitions of ambivalent

adjective having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

Example Sentences

A1 I feel ambivalent about going to the party.

A2 She was ambivalent about choosing a college major.

B1 The new policy left employees feeling ambivalent about their job security.

B2 The artist's latest work received ambivalent reviews from critics.

C1 The politician's ambivalent stance on the issue alienated some of his supporters.

C2 Despite her ambivalent feelings, she ultimately decided to pursue a career in medicine.

Examples of ambivalent in a Sentence

formal She felt ambivalent about the new policy changes, unsure if they would benefit the company in the long run.

informal I'm kind of ambivalent about going to the party tonight, I'm not sure if I'm in the mood.

slang I'm feeling ambivalent AF about this whole situation, like I just can't make up my mind.

figurative Her emotions were like a seesaw, constantly swinging between love and hate, leaving her feeling ambivalent towards him.

Grammatical Forms of ambivalent

• past tense: was ambivalent
• plural: ambivalents
• comparative: more ambivalent
• superlative: most ambivalent
• present tense: is ambivalent
• future tense: will be ambivalent
• perfect tense: has been ambivalent
• continuous tense: is being ambivalent
• singular: ambivalent
• positive degree: ambivalent
• infinitive: to be ambivalent
• gerund: being ambivalent
• participle: ambivalent

Origin and Evolution of ambivalent

First Known Use: 1916 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'ambivalent' originated from the Latin word 'ambivalens', which is a combination of 'ambi-' meaning 'both' and 'valens' meaning 'strong'.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in psychology to describe conflicting feelings towards a person or thing, the word 'ambivalent' has evolved to also encompass a broader range of conflicting emotions or attitudes in various contexts.