Ambivalent
/æmˈbɪvələnt/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Ambivalent describes a situation when a person feels two different or opposite emotions about the same thing. For example, you might feel happy and sad about moving to a new city. It shows uncertainty or mixed feelings.
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⚡ See It in Action
Feeling two opposite emotions at the same time
- •She was ambivalent about starting her new job—excited but nervous.
- •He felt ambivalent toward his old school; he missed friends but disliked the homework.
- •Many people feel ambivalent about moving to a new city.
Having mixed feelings that make decision hard
- •The voters were ambivalent about the candidate’s promises.
- •Parents often feel ambivalent when their children grow up and leave home.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "ambivalent" like "confused," but more about feelings—like you like and dislike something at the same time
- ✓Picture standing at a fork in the road, wanting to go both ways but not sure which path to choose
- ✓It’s the feeling when you want to eat cake but also want to be healthy—two opposite feelings together
- ✓Sounds like "am-BIV-a-lent" → imagine a bee (biv) flying two ways at once, unsure where to go
- ✓Think of a story where a character loves and hates the same person, feeling torn inside
- ✓NOT like "happy" or "sad" alone; ambivalent is both or neither clearly
- ✓NOT like "indifferent" (no feelings); ambivalent means strong but mixed feelings
- ✓NOT like "decided" or "certain"; ambivalent means unsure or undecided
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Conflicted: having strong but opposite feelings (Use when feelings are strong and cause inner struggle)
- •Uncertain: not sure about something (Use when you simply don’t know what to decide)
- •Mixed feelings: having different emotions at once (Use in everyday speech to describe ambivalence)
- •Undecided: not having made a choice (Use when the focus is on decision, not feelings)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "ambi-" (both) + "valent" (from Latin "valere" meaning to be strong or worth)
- •Etymology: From Latin roots meaning "having strong feelings in both directions"
- •Historical development: First used in psychology and literature to describe mixed emotions or attitudes
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe feelings of uncertainty, mixed emotions, or conflicting attitudes in everyday life and writing
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when you felt ambivalent about an important decision? What helped you decide?
•How might ambivalence affect relationships or friendships when people feel both love and frustration?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.She felt ambivalent about the job offer because it promised ___ but required ___.
2.When someone is ambivalent, they often feel both ___ and ___ about the same thing.
3.Ambivalent feelings can make it hard to ___ a clear choice or decision.
4.Unlike being certain, ambivalent means feeling ___ or having ___ emotions.
5.People sometimes say they have ambivalent feelings when they are ___ about a situation.
6.Ambivalent is different from indifferent because it involves ___ feelings, not ___ feelings.
7.You might feel ambivalent about moving to a new city if you are excited but also ___ to leave friends behind.