Word a Day
ambivalent
What does ambivalent mean?
ambivalent (adjective): simultaneously experiencing or expressing opposing or contradictory feelings, beliefs, motivations, or meanings.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you use ambivalent in a sentence?
- I feel very ambivalent about this. (Tatoeba sentence #12303997 by CK, CC BY 2.0 FR)
How do you pronounce ambivalent?
/æmˈbɪvələnt/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does ambivalent come from?
Back-formation from ambivalence, from German Ambivalenz, from Latin ambi- (“in two ways”) + valeō (“be strong”); equivalent to ambi- + -valent.
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Test yourself: do you know “ambivalent”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “ambivalent” mean?
of a person, deviating from the norm; behaving unexpectedly or differently; unconventional and slightly strange
Not quite: that's what eccentric means.
simultaneously experiencing or expressing opposing or contradictory feelings, beliefs, motivations, or meanings
Right! That's what “ambivalent” means.
imposing or constituting a physical, mental, or figurative load which can be borne only with effort; burdensome
Not quite: that's what onerous means.
separate or isolated from the surroundings; having little regard for others' opinions or prejudices; provincial
Not quite: that's what insular means.
Learn a word like “ambivalent” every day
Word a Day for iPhone quizzes you on a few new words a day and brings each one back for review at growing intervals. Free, no account, no ads.
Coming soon to the App Store