different between hesitant vs doubtful

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin haesitans, present participle of haesitare (“to stick fast, to hesitate”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?h?z?t?nt/

Adjective

hesitant (comparative more hesitant, superlative most hesitant)

1. Tending to hesitate, wait, or proceed with caution or reservation.

   I am hesitant to recommend him as a manager because he has a short temper.

Related terms

• hesitance
• hesitancy
• hesitate
• hesitation
• hesitative

Translations

Anagrams

• Theatins, staineth

Catalan

Verb

hesitant

1. present participle of hesitar

English

Alternative forms

• doubtfull (archaic)

Etymology

From Middle English doutfull, douteful, equivalent to doubt +? -ful.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?da?tf?l/
• Hyphenation: doubt?ful

Adjective

doubtful (comparative more doubtful, superlative most doubtful)

1. Subject to, or causing doubt.
2. Experiencing or showing doubt, sceptical.
3. Undecided or of uncertain outcome.
4. (obsolete) Fearsome, dreadful.
5. Improbable or unlikely.
6. Suspicious, or of dubious character.
7. Unclear or unreliable.

Derived terms

• doubtfully
• doubtfulness

Translations

Noun

doubtful (plural doubtfuls)

1. A doubtful person or thing.
   • 1976, Kenneth Gibbons, Donald Cameron Rowat, Political Corruption in Canada: Cases, Causes and Cures (page 45)

     They had their lists of Liberals and of the doubtfuls who still remained doubtful. As the election drew near, the force of the whole organization was turned upon these unrepentant doubtfuls.