TENTATIVE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for TENTATIVE?

Need another word that means the same as “tentative”? Find 19 synonyms and 30 related words for “tentative” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Tentative” are: doubtful, probationary, provisional, provisionary, unconfirmed, unsettled, indefinite, preliminary, subject to confirmation, hesitant, uncertain, cautious, unconfident, timid, hesitating, faltering, shaky, unsteady, halting

Tentative as an Adjective

Definitions of "Tentative" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “tentative” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon.
• Not certain or fixed; provisional.
• Done without confidence; hesitant.
• Unsettled in mind or opinion.

Synonyms of "Tentative" as an adjective (19 Words)

cautious	(of a person) careful to avoid potential problems or dangers. A cautious driver.
doubtful	Fraught with uncertainty or doubt. Of doubtful legality.
faltering	Moving unsteadily or hesitantly. She tells her plight in faltering tones.
halting	Fragmentary or halting from emotional strain. She speaks halting English with a heavy accent.
hesitant	Lacking decisiveness of character; unable to act or decide quickly or firmly. Her slow hesitant way of speaking.
hesitating	Lacking decisiveness of character; unable to act or decide quickly or firmly. Her hesitating gait.
indefinite	Not decided or not known. Plans are indefinite.
preliminary	Denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important; designed to orient or acquaint with a situation before proceeding. The discussions were seen as preliminary to the policy paper.
probationary	Relating to a process of testing or observing the character or abilities of a person who is new to a role or job. She recently completed her two year probationary period with the police.
provisional	Denoting the unofficial wings of the IRA and Sinn Fein established in 1969 and advocating terrorism. Norman as yet had only a provisional licence.
provisionary	Under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon. A provisionary party member.
shaky	Not secure; beset with difficulties. She managed a shaky laugh.
subject to confirmation	Possibly accepting or permitting.
timid	Lacking self-confidence. Problems that call for bold not timid responses.
uncertain	Not able to be relied on; not known or definite. Plans are still uncertain.
unconfident	Not confident; hesitant. The airmen were young but not unconfident.
unconfirmed	Not confirmed as to truth or validity. An unconfirmed letter of credit.
unsettled	Not settled or established. One question remains unsettled.
unsteady	Subject to change or variation. Nathan pushed the mug into her unsteady hand.

Usage Examples of "Tentative" as an adjective

• Drew a few tentative conclusions.
• He eventually tried a few tentative steps round his hospital room.
• A tentative conclusion.
• Just a tentative schedule.

Associations of "Tentative" (30 Words)

armistice	A state of peace agreed to between opponents so they can discuss peace terms. The Italian government signed an armistice with the Allies.
brevity	The use of brief expressions. For brevity it is worth using these little symbols.
brief	Instruct a barrister by brief. She briefed him on last week s decisions.
cessation	A stopping. The cessation of hostilities.
conditional	A sentence containing a conditional clause. Conditional acceptance of the terms.
discontinuance	The act of discontinuing or breaking off; an interruption (temporary or permanent.
ephemeral	An ephemeral plant. Works of more than ephemeral interest.
episodic	Limited in duration to a single episode. An account concerned primarily with episodic events such as the succession of rulers.
evanescent	Denoting a field or wave which extends into a region where it cannot propagate and whose amplitude therefore decreases with distance. Evanescent beauty.
fleeting	Lasting for a very short time. For a fleeting moment I saw the face of a boy.
fugitive	Someone who is sought by law officers; someone trying to elude justice. The fugitive effects of light.
hesitant	Tentative, unsure, or slow in acting or speaking. Her slow hesitant way of speaking.
illusive	Deceptive; illusory. An illusive haven.
illusory	Based on or having the nature of an illusion. Secret activities offer presidents the alluring but often illusory promise that they can achieve foreign policy goals without the bothersome debate and open decision that are staples of democracy.
interim	An interim dividend profit etc. In the interim I ll just keep my fingers crossed.
limited	Denoting a limited company used after a company name. Limited war.
makeshift	Acting as an interim and temporary measure. The rock served as a makeshift hammer.
momentary	Lasting for a very short time; brief. A momentary glimpse.
provisional	A provisional stamp. Norman as yet had only a provisional licence.
provisory	Provisional. A provisory clause.
short	Short circuit or cause to short circuit. He was short and stocky.
stopgap	Something contrived to meet an urgent need or emergency. Transplants are only a stopgap until more sophisticated alternatives can work.
succinctness	Terseness and economy in writing and speaking achieved by expressing a great deal in just a few words.
temporary	A person employed on a temporary basis typically an office worker who finds employment through an agency. Employed on a temporary basis.
transience	The state or fact of lasting only for a short time; transitoriness. The transience of life and happiness.
transient	Lasting only for a short time; impermanent. Transient laborers.
transitional	Of or relating to or characterized by transition. A transitional government was appointed.
transitory	Lasting a very short time. Love is transitory but it is eternal.
truce	An agreement between enemies or opponents to stop fighting or arguing for a certain time. The guerrillas called a three day truce.
truncate	Make shorter as if by cutting off. A truncate leaf.