ambivalent feeling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ambivalent feeling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a state of having mixed or contradictory emotions about something or someone. Example: "She had an ambivalent feeling about moving to a new city, excited for the adventure but sad to leave her friends behind."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The will had been the focus of much ambivalent feeling between Maria and Williams.

The New Yorker

There's a pleasing, high-pitched ache to frontman Alister Wright's vocals, and an ambivalent feeling has the album sliding between 70s rock-hippy sweetness (with its full-band harmonies and Fleetwood Mac-style flourishes) and moodier fare, such as X's cosmic, zooming prog.

The Guardian - Music

Armenians have had an ambivalent feeling toward Russia since independence in 1991.

Huffington Post

"My artistic approach to contemporary art is to create the ambivalent feeling of the uncanny ("Das Unheimlich," for Freud).

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Perception ambivalence captured ambivalent feelings and reflections related to patients' perception of being at risk of CVD, on the one hand, and their perception of being healthy or sick on the other.

BMC Family Practice

(id 7) Treatment ambivalence typically consisted of ambivalent feelings and reflections about the need to change one's lifestyle and take medicines.

BMC Family Practice

(id 7) Our analysis of patients' perception ambivalence furthermore showed that the conflicting (ambivalent) feelings seemed to interact with the patients' reflections in a concurrent process.

BMC Family Practice

Their turbulent, youthful, drink- and drug-troubled affair casts a shadow over Sean's ambivalent feelings about Anna, for whom he doesn't feel the same heated need.

The New York Times

Russians undoubtedly have ambivalent feelings about oligarchs like Mr. Rybolovlev.

The New York Times

Parker had long had ambivalent feelings about Gillespie.

The New Yorker

"It's a lot of ambivalent feelings, conflicted feelings," Doug said.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing emotions, consider the intensity. "Ambivalent feeling" is a softer term than "conflicted emotions", which suggests a more acute inner struggle.

Common error

Avoid using "ambivalent feeling" when you actually mean indifference. Ambivalence implies a mixture of positive and negative feelings, whereas indifference suggests a lack of any feeling or interest.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ambivalent feeling" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "ambivalent" modifies the noun "feeling". It describes a state of having mixed, conflicting, or contradictory emotions towards something or someone. Ludwig AI highlights its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ambivalent feeling" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for conveying mixed or contradictory emotions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it accurately describes a state of internal conflict or uncertainty regarding one's feelings. While relatively infrequent, its usage spans diverse contexts, especially in news and media sources. Alternatives like "mixed emotions" or "conflicting feelings" may offer simpler or more common alternatives, but "ambivalent feeling" precisely captures the co-existence of opposing sentiments. Be mindful not to confuse ambivalence with indifference, which signifies a lack of any feeling rather than a mixture of feelings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mixed emotions

Replaces the adjective "ambivalent" with a more common term while retaining the core meaning of combined positive and negative feelings.

conflicting emotions

Emphasizes the internal conflict between different feelings, highlighting the struggle between opposing sentiments.

mixed feelings

A slightly more informal way of saying "mixed emotions", implying a blend of positive and negative sentiments.

contradictory emotions

Focuses on the conflicting nature of the emotions experienced, emphasizing their opposition to each other.

uncertain sentiments

Shifts the focus to the uncertainty and lack of clarity in the feelings experienced, highlighting the ambiguous nature of the emotions.

equivocal feelings

Uses a more formal term, "equivocal", to convey the ambiguity and uncertainty of the emotions.

divided sentiments

Implies a separation or split in the feelings, suggesting that the individual is torn between different emotions.

torn feelings

Emphasizes the sense of being pulled in different directions by conflicting emotions, highlighting the internal struggle.

two minds about

Expresses indecision and conflicting thoughts regarding a specific subject.

complex feelings

Highlights the intricate and multifaceted nature of the emotions experienced, suggesting a deeper level of psychological complexity.

FAQs

How can I use "ambivalent feeling" in a sentence?

You can use "ambivalent feeling" to describe a state of having mixed or contradictory emotions about something or someone. For example: "She had an "ambivalent feeling" about moving to a new city, excited for the adventure but sad to leave her friends behind."

What's a simpler way to say "ambivalent feeling"?

Alternatives to "ambivalent feeling" include "mixed emotions", "conflicting emotions", or "mixed feelings". These options are generally more commonly used in everyday language.

Is it always appropriate to use "ambivalent feeling" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "ambivalent feeling" might sound slightly less formal than alternatives like "equivocal sentiments" or "uncertain sentiments", which could be more suitable for academic or professional contexts.

What is the difference between "ambivalent feeling" and "uncertain feeling"?

"Ambivalent feeling" suggests a mixture of opposing emotions, while "uncertain feeling" primarily indicates a lack of clarity or confidence in one's emotions. Ambivalence implies a push and pull, whereas uncertainty suggests a lack of firm emotion.