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ambivalent

Adjective

IPA /æmˈbɪvələnt/

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Meaning in plain English

Having mixed or opposing feelings about someone or something, so that part of you feels positive and part feels negative.

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Pronunciation

ambivalent/æmˈbɪvələnt/

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Excited about moving
Sad to leave friends

You feel ambivalent when you have opposing feelings about the same move.

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I feel ambivalent about moving: excited by the change but sad to leave.
She was ambivalent about the promotion because it involved more travel.

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I feel ________ about moving: excited by the change but sad to leave.

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ambivalent — Having mixed or opposing feelings about someone or something, so that part of you feels positive and part feels negative.

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Having mixed or opposing feelings about someone or something, so that part of you feels positive and part feels negative.

Compare: I feel ambivalent about moving: excited by the change but sad to leave.

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Word origin

Formed from ambivalence, which came from German Ambivalenz; the adjective was shaped on words such as equivalent.

Did you know?

Ambivalence is the noun: you can feel or express ambivalence about a decision.

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