Examples of reluctant in a Sentence
94% of the butterflies are females, and they jostle for the attention of the few males, who seem reluctant suitors.
—
Carl Zimmer, Science, 11 May 2001
When I missed five in a row and was reluctant to take the next shot or didn't really follow through, my teammates would yell, "Brick!"
—Bill Bradley, New York Times, 18 Dec. 1994
The man swore sullenly. He went over to a corner and slowly began to put on his coat. He took his hat and went out, with a dragging, reluctant step.
—Stephen Crane, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, 1893
The woman seemed desirous, yet reluctant, to speak, and answered, in low, mysterious tone.
—Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin, 1852
We were reluctant to get involved.
He might agree but seems reluctant to admit it.
Carl Zimmer, Science, 11 May 2001
When I missed five in a row and was reluctant to take the next shot or didn't really follow through, my teammates would yell, "Brick!"
—Bill Bradley, New York Times, 18 Dec. 1994
The man swore sullenly. He went over to a corner and slowly began to put on his coat. He took his hat and went out, with a dragging, reluctant step.
—Stephen Crane, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, 1893
The woman seemed desirous, yet reluctant, to speak, and answered, in low, mysterious tone.
—Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin, 1852
We were reluctant to get involved.
He might agree but seems reluctant to admit it.
Recent Examples on the Web
This has created a chaotic transition period, potentially hurting engineers who are reluctant to use AI or struggle to keep up with the technology.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
The news was especially unexpected after the streamer coaxed a reluctant Sarah Michelle Gellar to bring back her original Buffy character and shot a $12 million pilot, directed by Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao, that introduced a new generation of Sunnydale High School characters.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 8 Apr. 2026
Homeowners with mortgage rates below 4% are reluctant to move into a higher-rate environment, even when life changes might otherwise prompt a move.
—Jessica Lautz, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2026
But those agencies face their own budget pressures, and commissioners are often reluctant to raise fees on residents to increase funding for the agencies.
—Douglas Hanks
april 8, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reluctant
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Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
The news was especially unexpected after the streamer coaxed a reluctant Sarah Michelle Gellar to bring back her original Buffy character and shot a $12 million pilot, directed by Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao, that introduced a new generation of Sunnydale High School characters.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 8 Apr. 2026
Homeowners with mortgage rates below 4% are reluctant to move into a higher-rate environment, even when life changes might otherwise prompt a move.
—Jessica Lautz, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2026
But those agencies face their own budget pressures, and commissioners are often reluctant to raise fees on residents to increase funding for the agencies.
—Douglas Hanks
april 8, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reluctant
Cite this Entry
“Reluctant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reluctant. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reluctant
adjective
re·luc·tant
ri-ˈlək-tənt 
: showing doubt or unwillingness
reluctant to answer
reluctantly
adverb
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