reluctant
adjective
re·luc·tant
ri-ˈlək-tənt 
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
The band is reluctant to get into too many other details of Lydon’s behavior on that tour.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 12 July 2025
Our evaluation might be incorrect, and investors may be reluctant to assign a higher valuation to P&G due to its recent decline in sales.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Aviation experts who spoke with The Seattle Times over the last month shared a long list of possibilities and were reluctant to rule anything out, noting that the circumstances of the crash were unusual.
—Tribune News Service, New York Daily News, 11 July 2025
The women of the Hall family – mom Lina and her daughters, Mia and Zoe – were reluctant to surrender their makeup.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for reluctant
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Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 12 July 2025
Our evaluation might be incorrect, and investors may be reluctant to assign a higher valuation to P&G due to its recent decline in sales.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Aviation experts who spoke with The Seattle Times over the last month shared a long list of possibilities and were reluctant to rule anything out, noting that the circumstances of the crash were unusual.
—Tribune News Service, New York Daily News, 11 July 2025
The women of the Hall family – mom Lina and her daughters, Mia and Zoe – were reluctant to surrender their makeup.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for reluctant
Cite this Entry
“Reluctant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reluctant. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reluctant
adjective
re·luc·tant
ri-ˈlək-tənt
: showing doubt or unwillingness
reluctant to answer
reluctantly
adverb
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