disinclined

adjective

dis·​in·​clined ˌdis-in-ˈklīnd 

: unwilling because of mild dislike or disapproval

Synonyms

• reluctant
• hesitant

Choose the Right Synonym for disinclined

disinclined, hesitant, reluctant, loath, averse mean lacking the will or desire to do something indicated.

disinclined implies lack of taste for or inclination.

disinclined to move again

disinclined for reading

hesitant implies a holding back especially through fear or uncertainty.

hesitant about asking for a date

reluctant implies a holding back through unwillingness.

a reluctant witness

loath implies hesitancy because of conflict with one's opinions, predilections, or liking.

seems loath to trust anyone

averse implies a holding back from or avoiding because of distaste or repugnance.

averse to hard work

not averse to an occasional drink

Examples of disinclined in a Sentence

disinclined to pay his friends a visit without calling first

Recent Examples on the Web

Although no law or official policy banned Jews from leaving Iran, the government was disinclined to issue them passports. —Roya Hakakian, The Atlantic, 10 July 2025

Then Nick Willert’s horse started to balk, as though disinclined to engage in the scrum. —Will Grant, Outside Online, 11 June 2025

Moscow had upped the intensity of its missile and drone strikes on Ukraine in recent weeks, drawing sharp rebuke from Trump, who is disinclined to overly criticize the Kremlin. —Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025

Studios—which are already struggling to bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic and multiple strikes in a splintered media landscape—could be disinclined to go forward with certain projects at all, if the costs or penalties seem prohibitively high. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 17 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for disinclined

• aligned
• alined
• assigned
• behind
• combined
• confined
• consigned
• declined
• defined
• designed
• divined
• enshrined