ambivalent

What does “ambivalent” mean?

adjective.having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.

SAT Usage

This term often appears in contexts discussing personal relationships, ethical dilemmas, or decision-making scenarios. It emphasizes the complexity of human emotions and the difficulty in making choices, contrasting with simpler feelings like certainty or enthusiasm, and highlighting the nuanced nature of conflicting desires or opinions.

Common Confusions

Ambivalent implies having mixed feelings or uncertainty about something, while decisive usually suggests a clear and firm resolution or opinion on a matter.

Example Sentences

• He has an ambivalent relationship towards his parents.

• She felt ambivalent about accepting the job offer, torn between excitement and hesitation.

Word Parts: How to Remember “ambivalent”

Break “ambivalent” into its parts: ambi- (both, around) + -val- (worth, strong). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: ambi- both, around (Latin)
• Root: -val- worth, strong (Latin)