| Main Entry: | tentative |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | conditional, experimental |
Synonyms: |
acting, ad interim, conjectural, contingent, dependent, iffy, indefinite, makeshift, not final, not settled, on trial, open for consideration, probationary, provisional, provisionary, provisory, speculative, subject to change, temporary, test, trial, unconfirmed, undecided, unsettled |
Antonyms: |
certain, decisive, definite, final, sure |
| Main Entry: | tentative |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | indefinite, uncertain |
Synonyms: |
backward, cautious, diffident, disinclined, doubtful, faltering, halting, hesitant, irresolute, reluctant, timid, undecided, unsure, vacillating, vacillatory, wobbly |
Antonyms: |
certain, conclusive, definite, sure |
| Main Entry: | cautious |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | careful, guarded |
Synonyms: |
alert, all ears, cagey, calculating, chary, circumspect, considerate, discreet, forethoughtful, gingerly, hedging one's bets, heedful, judicious, keeping on one's toes, leery, on the lookout, playing it cool, playing safe, politic, provident, prudent, pussyfoot, safe, shrewd, taking it easy, taking it slow, tentative, thinking twice, vigilant, walking on eggs, wary, watchful, watching one's step, watching out, with one's eyes peeled |
Antonyms: |
careless, hasty, heedless, imprudent, incautious, rash, thoughtless, uncareful, unguarded, unobservant |
| Main Entry: | conditional |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | dependent |
Synonyms: |
codicillary, contingent, depending on, fortuitous, granted on certain terms, guarded, iffy, incidental, inconclusive, limited, modified, not absolute, obscure, provisional, provisory, qualified, relative, reliant, relying on, restricted, restrictive, subject to, tentative, uncertain, with grain of salt, with reservations, with strings attached |
Antonyms: |
independent, unconditional, unlimited, unqualified, unrestricted |
| Main Entry: | conjectural |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | speculative |
Synonyms: |
academic, assumed, doubtful, figured, guessing, guesstimated, hypothetical, on a hunch, on a long shot, putative, reputed, supposed, suppositional, suppositious, suppositive, surmised, surmising, suspect, tentative, theoretical, uncertain, unresolved |
Antonyms: |
certain, factual, proven, real, truthful |
| Main Entry: | doubtful |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | not believing |
Synonyms: |
agnostic, baffled, confused, discomposed, disconcerted, distracted, distrustful, disturbed, doubting, dubious, equivocal, faithless, faltering, flustered, hesitant, hesitating, in a quandary, in clouds, in dilemma, indecisive, irresolute, like doubting Thomas, lost, not following, of two minds, perplexed, puzzled, questioning, skeptical, suspicious, tentative, theoretical, troubled, uncertain, unconvinced, undecided, unresolved, unsettled, unsure, vacillating, wavering, without belief |
| Notes: | a person is capable of doubting, whereas a thing is dubitable; dubious, unlike doubtful, carries the connotation of suspicion |
Antonyms: |
believing, certain, confident, convinced, sure, trusting |
| Main Entry: | experimental |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | exploratory |
Synonyms: |
beginning, developmental, empirical, experiential, first stage, laboratory, momentary, on approval, pilot, preliminary, preparatory, primary, probationary, provisional, speculative, temporary, tentative, test, trial, trial-and-error, unconcluded, under probation, unproved |
Antonyms: |
proven, tested, tried |
| Main Entry: | halting |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | hesitant |
Synonyms: |
awkward, bumbling, claudicant, clumsy, doubtful, faltering, gauche, imperfect, indecisive, inept, irresolute, labored, limping, lumbering, maladroit, slow, stammering, stumbling, stuttering, tentative, uncertain, unhandy, vacillating, vacillatory, wavering, wooden |
Antonyms: |
flowing, smooth, unhesitating |
| Main Entry: | hesitant |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | uncertain, waiting |
Synonyms: |
afraid, averse, backward, dawdling, delaying, diffident, disinclined, doubtful, doubting, faltering, half-hearted, halting, hanging back, hesitating, indecisive, irresolute, lacking confidence, lazy, loath, reluctant, shy, skeptical, slow, tentative, timid, uneager, unpredictable, unsure, unwilling, vacillating, wavering |
Antonyms: |
certain, definite, resolute, sure, unhesitant, unwavering |
| Main Entry: | humble |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | meek, unassuming |
Synonyms: |
apprehensive, backward, bashful, biddable, blushing, content, courteous, deferential, demure, diffident, docile, fearful, gentle, hesitant, lowly, manageable, mild, modest, obliging, obsequious, ordinary, polite, quiet, reserved, respectful, retiring, reverential, sedate, self-conscious, self-effacing, servile, sheepish, shy, simple, soft-spoken, standoffish, submissive, subservient, supplicatory, tentative, timid, timorous, tractable, unambitious, unobtrusive, unostentatious, unpretentious, withdrawn |
Antonyms: |
assertive, boasting, brave, conceited, egotistical, insolent, pretentious, proud, showy |