ambivalence
/æmˈbɪv.ə.ləns/The state of having two opposite or conflicting feelings about someone or something at the same time. It is not the same as not caring — you feel both strongly, just in opposite directions.
- She felt ambivalence about moving abroad for the new job.
- His ambivalence toward the marriage was clear to everyone.
- There is growing ambivalence about the government's education reforms.
Adinary Nuance
Ambivalence is often confused with indecision and uncertainty, but they are meaningfully different. Indecision is when you cannot make a choice — you just don't know what to pick. Uncertainty means you lack information or confidence about an outcome. Ambivalence, by contrast, is when you have both feelings at once — you want and don't want something simultaneously, and you feel each side clearly. It also differs from apathy, which means you simply don't care; ambivalence means you care in two conflicting directions. In everyday speech, "mixed feelings" is the natural informal equivalent; "ambivalence" is the more formal, academic choice, and is the word IELTS and academic writing contexts will reward.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- Sự lưỡng lự
- Spanish
- Ambivalencia
- Chinese
- 矛盾心理
- Japanese
- 両価性
- Korean
- 양가감정
Etymology
From German "Ambivalenz," coined around 1910 by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler, combining Latin "ambi-" (both sides) and "valentia" (strength or capacity). It entered English in the early 20th century through psychology literature.
Common phrases
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between ambivalence and indecision?
- Indecision means you cannot choose between options. Ambivalence means you feel both positive and negative about something at the same time — the conflict is emotional, not just a failure to decide.
- Is 'ambivalence' a formal word? Can I use it in everyday speech?
- Yes, it leans formal and is common in academic, IELTS, and professional writing. In casual speech, most people say 'I have mixed feelings about it' instead. Both are correct, but 'ambivalence' sounds more sophisticated.
- What is the adjective form of 'ambivalence'?
- The adjective form is 'ambivalent.' You can say 'She is ambivalent about the decision' or use the noun: 'She feels ambivalence about the decision.' Both are natural.
- Is ambivalence the same as apathy?
- No. Apathy means you feel nothing — you simply do not care. Ambivalence means you care deeply, but in two opposite directions at once. They are almost opposites in emotional intensity.