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
Even the most reluctant fish will want to gobble them up.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
The president has grown increasingly frustrated with his alliance partners, who have been reluctant to join the American-Israeli assault and questioned its legal basis.
—Rebecca Shabad, NBC news, 26 Mar. 2026
The seven-time Most Valuable Player, a reluctant and at times surly interview subject during his days with the Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates, showed his more excited and expansive side.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
That, presumably, is because human actors would have been reluctant to approve their name, image and likeness for use in whatever the Disney-Sora thing was going to be.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reluctant
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Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
The president has grown increasingly frustrated with his alliance partners, who have been reluctant to join the American-Israeli assault and questioned its legal basis.
—Rebecca Shabad, NBC news, 26 Mar. 2026
The seven-time Most Valuable Player, a reluctant and at times surly interview subject during his days with the Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates, showed his more excited and expansive side.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
That, presumably, is because human actors would have been reluctant to approve their name, image and likeness for use in whatever the Disney-Sora thing was going to be.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 25 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 28 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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