Ambivalent: Definition & Meaning for the SAT 🤔

You want the double-double cheeseburger, but know it's not healthy? You might be AMBIVALENT.

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Hey there, future 1600-scorer!

Today's word is a psychological one that we subjectively rate a level 4 out 5 in difficulty. Let's learn this one.

ℹ️ Part of speech of ambivalent

ambivalent is an ADJECTIVE.

🗣️ Pronunciation of ambivalent

ambivalent is pronounced /æm.ˈbɪv.ə.lənt/ or am-BIV-uh-luhnt.

📚️ Definition of ambivalent

ambivalent means having mixed or contradictory feelings about something or someone. Example: ambivalent about starting a new job in a new city.

📰 Examples

Here are some examples of ambivalent used in a sentence:

• After years of anticipation, Raj felt surprisingly ambivalent about his college graduation, proud of his accomplishment, yet anxious about the future.

• The critic's ambivalent review of the new raw-food restaurant praised the innovative menu but criticized the unpalatability of the food.

• As a history buff, Ahmed was ambivalent about technological progress, appreciating its benefits while lamenting the loss of traditional ways of life.

🧠 Quick vocab quiz on ambivalent

Test yourself! New! I am including words from last week's SAT words.

1. Someone who is ambivalent about a decision would most likely feel

A) uncertain.
B) enthusiastic.
C) indifferent.
D) confident.
E) hostile.

2. Which of the following situations best exemplifies ambivalent feelings?

A) Lena loves her new job but misses spending time with her family.
B) Markus is excited about his upcoming vacation to Hawaii.
C) Sophia dislikes all types of seafood, but loves legumes.
D) Jamal hopes to work as an oncologist one day.
E) Aisha feels indifferent about which movie to see tonight.

3. Din most nearly means

A) a group of crows.
B) cacophony.
C) a word that imitates a sound.
D) figurative language.
E) a genie.

4. Surrealistic most nearly means

A) believable.
B) dreamlike.
C) exceptional.
D) dim-witted.
E) inaudible.

Scroll down for the answer/s.

💁🏼 Tips on using the word ambivalent correctly

It's important to note that being ambivalent is different from being indifferent. AMBIVALENCE implies strong feelings in opposing directions, while indifference suggests a lack of strong feelings altogether. Also, ambivalent is often followed by "about" or "toward" when referring to the object of mixed feelings.

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✅ Quiz answer/s

Answers:

1. A, uncertain.

2. A, Lena loves her new job but misses spending time with her family.

3. B, cacophony.

4. B, dreamlike.

That's all for today's SAT word. If you found this helpful, please share it with your study buddies or leave a comment below. Keep expanding that vocabulary!

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