Ambivalent
mediumNegative toneam-BIV-uh-lunt
adjective
Definition
Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something
Memory hook
AMBI-valent: Pulled strongly in BOTH directions -- torn between two feelings.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“She felt ambivalent about moving to a new city.”
“His ambivalent attitude made it difficult to predict his decision.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“She felt ______ about moving to a new city.”
Show answer
ambivalent
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Ambivalent is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "conflicted" or "undecided" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "certain".
Related GRE Words
indeterminate
Not exactly known, established, or defined; vague
precarious
dangerously insecure or unstable; uncertain
tentative
Not certain or fixed; provisional; hesitant or uncertain
animosity
Strong hostility or hatred
antipathy
a deep, settled feeling of dislike or aversion
apprehension
Anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen
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