What does ambivalent mean?
Word: Ambivalent
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Ambivalent means having mixed feelings about something, so that you cannot decide what you really think.
Synonyms: undecided, in two minds
Antonyms: decided
How do you spell ambivalent?
Syllables: am - biv - a - lent
Tricky part: The last vowel is a weak, blurred sound in speech, so your ear cannot tell you which letter to write. Learn the ending by heart.
Watch out for: ambivalant, ambivelant
Memory tip: You may feel pulled both ways, but the ending stays put: it finishes like present, not like pleasant.
Ambivalent in a sentence
Example 1: Dev feels ambivalent about the new haircut.
Example 2: I was ambivalent about the long train ride: the views were lovely, but I dislike sitting still.
Example 3: Many parents are ambivalent about giving children their own phones.
Fun Fact
The word is little more than a century old. A Swiss doctor, Eugen Bleuler, coined it in German about 1910 for the state of being pulled in two directions at once.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
One word in this sentence is misspelt. Find it:
Although the school trip sounded exciting, Tara remained ambevalent because it clashed with the final of the inter-house badminton tournament.
a) exciting
b) ambevalent
c) clashed
d) tournament
Show answer
b) ambevalent. Say the opening slowly: the vowel after the b is the short one you hear in big.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters to find the word that fits the sentence:
Sana felt lnaimbetav about the move to a new school, glad of the sports ground but sad to leave her friends.
a) amiable
b) ambivalent
c) ambidextrous
d) ambitious
Show answer
b) ambivalent. Being glad and sad together is the clue, and the v with the l confirms it.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word ambivalent as used in the sentence:
Rohan is ambivalent about joining the debating club this term.
a) wavering
b) certain
c) hesitant
d) doubtful
Show answer
b) certain. A boy who has no doubt at all stands opposite one who is pulled both ways.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the meaning of the correctly spelt word:
1. reluctent 2. enthousiastic 3. dilemna 4. ambivalent
a) not willing to do something
b) very keen and full of eager interest
c) torn between opposite feelings about one thing
d) a situation that forces a hard choice
Show answer
c) torn between opposite feelings about one thing. Dilemma needs mm, not mn, and reluctant and enthusiastic are misspelt too, so just one word is left.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which remark sounds ambivalent?
a) I do not like the flat, and never will.
b) I have never seen a better flat than this.
c) I like the flat, but I miss the street.
d) I like the flat more than anything else.
Show answer
c) I like the flat, but I miss the street.
2. A person who is ambivalent about a job offer is most likely to ____.
a) turn it down without a thought
b) keep listing its pros and cons
c) tell everyone the good news
d) accept it the moment it arrives
Show answer
b) keep listing its pros and cons
