How Do You Spell AMBIVALENCE?

Pronunciation: [ambˈɪvələns] (IPA)

Ambivalence is a word that is often misspelled because its pronunciation can be easily confused. It is pronounced /æmˈbɪvələns/ (am-BIV-uh-luhns) with the stress on the second syllable. The "b" comes before the "v" because "ambivalence" is derived from the Latin ambivalentia, where "ambi-" meant "both" and "valentia" meant "strength". Therefore, the spelling corresponds to the etymology, indicating the idea of having mixed or conflicting emotions or attitudes towards something. It is essential to know how to spell the word properly, especially when writing academic or professional assignments.

AMBIVALENCE Meaning and Definition

1. Ambivalence is a noun that refers to the state of having mixed feelings, contradictory emotions, or conflicting attitudes towards a person, object, situation, or idea. It is characterized by the simultaneous presence of two opposing or contradictory emotions, thoughts, or desires, making it difficult for an individual to fully embrace or make a decision.

   When someone experiences ambivalence, they may feel torn between two conflicting options, beliefs, or opinions. This could manifest as uncertainty, indecisiveness, or a sense of being stuck. For example, a person might feel both excited and anxious about starting a new job, or they might feel love and frustration towards a difficult family member.

   Ambivalence can also arise when facing moral dilemmas or complex issues where there is no clear right or wrong answer. It often stems from the complexity of human experiences and our ability to process multiple emotions or perspectives simultaneously.

   In psychology, ambivalence is understood as a natural response to certain situations and is considered normal. It is important to acknowledge and explore ambivalence, as it can provide valuable insights into one's emotions and motivations. Recognizing ambivalence can lead to a deeper understanding of oneself and facilitate the process of decision-making or conflict resolution.

2. The property of having equal value or power applied in either of two contrary directions.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Top Common Misspellings for AMBIVALENCE *

• ambivalance 33.3333333%
• ambivilence 22.2222222%
• ambivilance 22.2222222%
• ambivalences 22.2222222%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for AMBIVALENCE

• ambivlance
• ambevilence
• ambivalnce
• ambivolence
• ambilence
• ambilavence
• abivelence
• ambivelance
• abivilence
• ambalence
• amivalence
• ambivelence
• Amibivalence
• Amibalence
• Amibivolence
• Amblivalency
• Abiacence

Etymology of AMBIVALENCE

The word "ambivalence" has its roots in Latin. It is derived from two Latin words: "ambi" which means "both" or "both ways", and "valentia" which means "strength" or "power". Combining these roots, "ambivalence" can be understood as having conflicting or contradictory feelings or attitudes towards something.

Similar spelling words for AMBIVALENCE

• ambiversion,
• ambivalency,
• ambivalent,
• ambiversive.

Plural form of AMBIVALENCE is AMBIVALENCES