Browse or find a wordSearch by idea, purpose, familiarity, setting, or landing.
Be more particular
deliberation
dih-lib-uh-RAY-shun
- 01Understand
- 02Hear
- 03Distinguish
- 04See it used
- 05Choose how it lands
Careful, purposeful thought or slowness before acting.
It lets you present slowness as a choice, so care is not mistaken for cold feet.
Hesitation is not knowing what to do. Deliberation is taking the time anyway, and the person taking it is in control.
work“The panel came back after two hours of deliberation and asked for one more reference.”
conversation“He answered with a deliberation that made the rest of us stop treating it as small talk.”
thought“I wanted my pause to look like deliberation, so I said exactly when I would call back.”
Your team wants a supplier decision today and you want a week to check the supplier's accounts.
Meaning held still: Buy a week without letting the delay look like nerves.
“This is deliberation, not delay. A week to read their accounts, then I sign either way.”
It lands as: Separates the two things the room is likely to confuse and puts an end date on the pause.
Tradeoff: Insisting on the distinction can sound defensive if nobody had actually accused you.“I am close. There is one thing left I want to see, and you will have my answer Friday.”
It lands as: Keeps momentum and gives the team a date they can plan around.
Tradeoff: Leaving the reason unnamed means nobody can help you get the answer sooner.“A week. Then yes or no.”
It lands as: Sounds decided about the delay itself, which is usually what a restless room needs to hear.
Tradeoff: It offers no reason at all, so anyone who disagrees has nothing to argue with except you.Watch for: Deliberation describes the quality of the thinking, not the length of the wait. Time spent avoiding a decision does not become deliberation by lasting longer.
First met in The Visitor at Midnight. Saving keeps that example with the word.