| No. | Item | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | abandon it | give up the plan |
| 2. | afraid to proceed | too frightened to continue |
| 3. | back out | withdraw from a commitment |
| 4. | balk | refuse or hesitate suddenly |
| 5. | be afraid | feel fear about proceeding |
| 6. | be apprehensive | feel anxious about proceeding |
| 7. | be hesitant | show uncertainty about proceeding |
| 8. | be indecisive | be unable to decide confidently |
| 9. | be nervous | feel uneasy about acting |
| 10. | be reluctant | be unwilling to proceed |
| 11. | be scared | feel frightened to continue |
| 12. | be unsure | lack confidence about acting |
| 13. | call it off | cancel the planned action |
| 14. | call off | cancel because of reluctance |
| 15. | cave in | give way under pressure |
| 16. | chicken out | fail to act from fear |
| 17. | cowed | intimidated into hesitation |
| 18. | crack | break under pressure |
| 19. | crumble | lose resolve completely |
| 20. | defer | delay until later |
| 21. | delay | put off going ahead |
| 22. | demur | raise doubts or objections |
| 23. | dither | be indecisive and hesitant |
| 24. | doubt | feel uncertain about acting |
| 25. | drag one’s feet | delay through reluctance |
| 26. | draw back | retreat from a planned action |
| 27. | drop the idea | abandon the plan |
| 28. | falter | lose confidence and hesitate |
| 29. | flinch | draw back from acting |
| 30. | fold | give up under pressure |
| 31. | freak out | become too upset to proceed |
| 32. | freeze | be unable to act |
| 33. | full of doubt | uncertain and hesitant |
| 34. | get gun-shy | become wary and hesitant |
| 35. | get jittery | become nervously uneasy |
| 36. | get rattled | become unnerved and unsure |
| 37. | get scared off | be frightened into withdrawing |
| 38. | get shaky | become nervous and unsure |
| 39. | get spooked | become suddenly frightened |
| 40. | grow hesitant | become more unsure |
| 41. | grow wary | become cautious and reluctant |
| 42. | hang back | stay back from reluctance |
| 43. | have doubts | feel uncertain about proceeding |
| 44. | have misgivings | feel doubts or worries |
| 45. | have qualms | feel uneasy doubts |
| 46. | have reservations | hold back because of doubts |
| 47. | have scruples | hesitate from moral doubt |
| 48. | have second thoughts | start doubting a decision |
| 49. | hesitate | pause because of uncertainty or fear |
| 50. | hold back | restrain oneself from acting |
| 51. | in two minds | torn between choices |
| 52. | jittery | nervous and uneasy |
| 53. | leery | suspicious and reluctant |
| 54. | lose confidence | stop feeling sure enough |
| 55. | lose courage | become afraid to proceed |
| 56. | lose heart | become discouraged about continuing |
| 57. | lose nerve | become too frightened to continue |
| 58. | lose one’s bottle | lose courage suddenly |
| 59. | not commit | avoid making a commitment |
| 60. | not follow through | fail to complete action |
| 61. | on the fence | unable to decide firmly |
| 62. | opt out | choose not to participate |
| 63. | panic | be overcome by sudden fear |
| 64. | pause | stop briefly from uncertainty |
| 65. | postpone | move to a later time |
| 66. | procrastinate | delay through avoidance or doubt |
| 67. | pull back | retreat from going forward |
| 68. | pull out | withdraw from a plan |
| 69. | put it off | postpone from reluctance |
| 70. | quail | lose courage suddenly |
| 71. | question | doubt whether to proceed |
| 72. | quit | stop before continuing |
| 73. | reassess | evaluate again with uncertainty |
| 74. | recoil | shrink back in fear |
| 75. | reconsider | think again before acting |
| 76. | relent | give up resistance or resolve |
| 77. | rethink | consider again with doubts |
| 78. | retreat | move away from commitment |
| 79. | scruple | hesitate from doubt or conscience |
| 80. | shrink from | avoid because of fear |
| 81. | shy away | avoid through nervous reluctance |
| 82. | sit tight | avoid acting for now |
| 83. | stall | delay because of reluctance |
| 84. | step back | withdraw from moving forward |
| 85. | stop short | halt before completing action |
| 86. | succumb to nerves | be overcome by nervousness |
| 87. | think twice | reconsider before going ahead |
| 88. | timorous | fearful and hesitant |
| 89. | too nervous | overly anxious to act |
| 90. | turn back | reverse course from fear |
| 91. | turn hesitant | become unsure about proceeding |
| 92. | unnerved | made too nervous to proceed |
| 93. | vacillate | swing between choices uncertainly |
| 94. | waffle | be unable to decide |
| 95. | wary | cautious and reluctant |
| 96. | waver | become unsure about proceeding |
| 97. | weaken | lose strength or resolve |
| 98. | wilt | lose confidence or energy |
| 99. | withdraw | remove oneself from proceeding |
| 100. | yield to fear | let fear stop action |
