ambivalent

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English

Etymology

Back-formation from ambivalence, from German Ambivalenz, from Latin ambi- (in two ways) + valeō (be strong); equivalent to ambi- +‎ -valent.

Pronunciation

Adjective

ambivalent (comparative more ambivalent, superlative most ambivalent)

  1. Simultaneously experiencing or expressing opposing or contradictory feelings, beliefs, or motivations.
  2. Alternately having one opinion or feeling, and then the opposite.
    His feelings toward his parents are ambivalent.

Usage notes

Ambivalent is commonly used to denote having conflicting emotions instead of lacking emotions. More appropriate alternatives for a lack of emotion would be indifferent and apathetic.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from German ambivalent.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˌɑm.bi.vaːˈlɛnt/
  • (file)
  • Hyphenation: am‧bi‧va‧lent
  • Rhymes: -ɛnt

Adjective

ambivalent (comparative ambivalenter, superlative ambivalentst)

  1. ambivalent (simultaneously experiencing conflicting drives)

Inflection

Inflection of ambivalent
uninflected ambivalent
inflected ambivalente
comparative ambivalenter
positive comparative superlative
predicative/adverbial ambivalent ambivalenter het ambivalentst
het ambivalentste
indefinite m./f. sing. ambivalente ambivalentere ambivalentste
n. sing. ambivalent ambivalenter ambivalentste
plural ambivalente ambivalentere ambivalentste
definite ambivalente ambivalentere ambivalentste
partitive ambivalents ambivalenters

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Indonesian: ambivalen

French

Etymology

Borrowed from German ambivalent, from Latin ambi- + Latin valentem, the latter from the verb valeō.

Pronunciation

Adjective

ambivalent (feminine ambivalente, masculine plural ambivalents, feminine plural ambivalentes)

  1. ambivalent
  2. ambiguous, equivocal

Further reading

German

Etymology

From ambi-, ambo and valens (inflected valent-), valeo.

Pronunciation

Adjective

ambivalent (strong nominative masculine singular ambivalenter, comparative ambivalenter, superlative am ambivalentesten)

  1. ambivalent
    Seine Gefühle ihr gegenüber sind ambivalent, sowohl positiv als auch negativ.
    His feelings to her are ambivalent, positive as well as negative.

Declension

Related terms

Further reading

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French ambivalent.

Adjective

ambivalent m or n (feminine singular ambivalentă, masculine plural ambivalenți, feminine and neuter plural ambivalente)

  1. ambivalent

Declension

Swedish

Adjective

ambivalent (not comparable)

  1. ambivalent

Usage notes

Often implies calm ambivalence, like in English – not caring much one way or the other due to mixed feelings. Kluven (torn) might imply more mentally uncomfortable ambivalence.

Declension

Inflection of ambivalent
Indefinite Positive Comparative Superlative2
Common singular ambivalent
Neuter singular ambivalent
Plural ambivalenta
Masculine plural3 ambivalente
Definite Positive Comparative Superlative
Masculine singular1 ambivalente
All ambivalenta
1) Only used, optionally, to refer to things whose natural gender is masculine.
2) The indefinite superlative forms are only used in the predicative.
3) Dated or archaic

Related terms

See also

References