ambivalent
zwiespältig – zwiespältiger – am zwiespältigsten
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ambivalent
Characterized by conflicting feelings, thoughts, or evaluations; internally unclear and divided between two opposing possibilities.
Sie hatte zwiespältige Gefühle, weil sie sich über den Erfolg freute, aber zugleich traurig über die Folgen war.
She had ambivalent feelings because she was happy about the success but at the same time sad about the consequences.
| basic form | zwiespältig |
|---|---|
| comparative | zwiespältiger |
| superlative | am zwiespältigsten |
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to zwiespältig.
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to zwiespältig.
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| dat. | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| gen. | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Add the ending to zwiespältig.
'Zwiespältig' (ambivalent) is related to 'Zwiespalt' (inner conflict): 'zwie-' points to two sides, and 'Spalt' means a split. This helps you remember the image of a person who is internally divided between opposing evaluations.
Nach dem Gespräch blieb bei ihr ein zwiespältiger Eindruck zurück.
After the conversation, she was left with an ambivalent impression.
'Zwiespältig' (ambivalent) is especially common with words such as 'Gefühle' (feelings), 'Haltung' (stance), 'Einstellung' (attitude), 'Eindruck' (impression), and 'Reaktion' (reaction). The phrase 'eine zwiespältige Haltung gegenüber etwas' (an ambivalent attitude toward something) is also common.
Viele Beschäftigte haben eine zwiespältige Haltung gegenüber der neuen Regelung.
Many employees have an ambivalent attitude toward the new regulations.
The meaning often becomes clear from the context when a positive and a negative aspect are mentioned at the same time. Two opposing reasons therefore often follow, connected by 'aber' (but), 'zugleich' (at the same time), or 'einerseits … andererseits' (on the one hand … on the other hand).
Sie beurteilte den Vorschlag zwiespältig: Einerseits war er praktisch, andererseits fehlten wichtige Details.
She had mixed feelings about the proposal: On the one hand, it was practical; on the other hand, important details were missing.
