How Do You Spell AMBIVALENT?

Pronunciation: [ambˈɪvələnt] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "ambivalent" may seem tricky at first, but it actually follows a predictable pattern. The "am" is pronounced as /æm/, the "bi" as /bɪ/, and the "valent" as /ˈvælənt/. When broken down further, the "ambi" prefix means "both" and the "valent" suffix means "having strength or potency." Put together, "ambivalent" means having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something. So, next time you're spelling this word, remember the predictable pattern and its meaning!

AMBIVALENT Meaning and Definition

1. Ambivalent is an adjective that describes having mixed or conflicting emotions, attitudes, or thoughts towards something or someone. It is derived from the Latin term "ambivalere," which means "to be pulled in different directions."

   When someone is ambivalent, they experience a simultaneous coexistence of opposing feelings or opinions. This state of ambivalence can be characterized by uncertainty, indecisiveness, or internal conflict. It often involves contradictory emotions such as both liking and disliking something, feeling both happy and sad, or having both positive and negative thoughts about a person or situation.

   Ambivalence can arise when a person is torn between two equally compelling options, when faced with conflicting information or values, or when there are both positive and negative aspects associated with a particular choice, person, or event. It can also be a result of fear, past experiences, or lack of confidence in making a decision.

   Ambivalent individuals may display hesitancy, vacillation, or a tendency to see-saw between opposing viewpoints. They may struggle to express or understand their emotions and may appear unpredictable or indecisive to others. Ambivalence is a complex state of mind that can vary in intensity and duration, with individuals fluctuating between conflicting emotions depending on the circumstances.

   Overall, ambivalence encapsulates the human experience of being caught between conflicting emotions, creating a rich tapestry of indecision, uncertainty, and a struggle to reconcile opposing feelings.

2. Of equal value or power in both directions.

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

Top Common Misspellings for AMBIVALENT *

• ambivilent 57.6923076%
• ambivilant 23.076923%
• abivilent 11.5384615%
• ambivelent 7.6923076%

* 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 AMBIVALENT

• ambivalant
• ambivolent
• zmbivalent
• smbivalent
• wmbivalent
• qmbivalent
• anbivalent
• akbivalent
• ajbivalent
• amvivalent
• ambivelant
• ambiviolent

Etymology of AMBIVALENT

The word "ambivalent" originated from the Latin word "ambivalens", which is a combination of "ambi-" meaning "both" or "around" and "valens" meaning "strong" or "worthy". "Ambivalens" essentially referred to having mixed emotions or contradictory feelings towards something. It was coined in the early 20th century by the Swiss psychologist Eugen Bleuler, who used it to describe a state of simultaneous conflicting attitudes or emotions. The term quickly gained popularity in psychology and eventually entered common usage in English to describe the state of being uncertain or indecisive due to conflicting emotions or opinions.

Similar spelling words for AMBIVALENT

• ambivalency,
• ambiversion,
• ambivalence.