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
Providers may be reluctant to accept subsidies to help pay for a child’s care, in part because of the additional work of submitting a child’s attendance records to the state and verifying other information.
—Beth Kania-Gosche, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2026
Lamont, a fiscal moderate, has been reluctant to tamper with those budget caps.
—Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2026
The nephew of Walt, along with his financial advisor Stanley Gold, led a successful revolt that forced Eisner’s resignation as chairman initially and led soon after to his very reluctant departure as chief executive.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
Technical challenges have made some cities reluctant to recognize plural domestic partnerships, according to a paper Tweedy published last year.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reluctant
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Beth Kania-Gosche, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2026
Lamont, a fiscal moderate, has been reluctant to tamper with those budget caps.
—Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2026
The nephew of Walt, along with his financial advisor Stanley Gold, led a successful revolt that forced Eisner’s resignation as chairman initially and led soon after to his very reluctant departure as chief executive.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
Technical challenges have made some cities reluctant to recognize plural domestic partnerships, according to a paper Tweedy published last year.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 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 20 Mar. 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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