reluctance

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noun re·luc·tance \ ri-ˈlək-tən(t)s \

Definition of reluctance

1 :the quality or state of being reluctant

2 :the opposition offered in a magnetic circuit to magnetic flux; specifically :the ratio of the magnetic potential difference to the corresponding flux

See reluctance defined for kids

Examples of reluctance in a Sentence

the mice showed an odd reluctance to eat the cheese we had put out for them

Recent Examples of reluctance from the Web

Earlier surveys of Americans (here and here) have found a reluctance to support human genome editing, with many respondents expressing ethical and other concerns about such intentional tinkering.

— jon cohen, Science | AAAS, "Americans are becoming more open to human genome editing, survey finds, but concerns remain," 10 Aug. 2017
Holcomb justified his reluctance to discuss the amount of funding the state stood to lose, noting that many of the plans — including the most recent ones in the Senate — seemed to be in constant flux.

— brian slodysko, Post-Tribune, "Indiana Democrats criticize Holcomb's rhetoric on GOP health care repeal," 28 July 2017
This reluctance is rooted in the regulations imposed after the last crisis, which require banks to hold more capital.

— The Economist, "ButtonwoodCould bond funds break the market?," 20 July 2017
After Russia investigations were bogged down by a lack of evidence admissible in court, and by a reluctance among Republicans to take down their president, Democrats concentrated their attacks on the president’s populist pledges.

— The Economist, "If Donald Trump won a second termSuppose the Trump show runs and runs," 13 July 2017
Vanity Fair: Was there much reluctance on either of their parts to go anywhere or even just to give you access to begin with?

— matthew lynch, HWD, "Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine, and Music’s Most Successful Alliance," 11 July 2017
This reluctance may have hurt her in the general election three days later.

— robert hutton, Bloomberg.com, "What Special Relationship? Trump and May to Test Ties at G-20," 5 July 2017
But Trump has expressed growing irritation at Beijing's reluctance to tighten the screw on Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs.

— edith m. lederer, chicagotribune.com, "U.S. warns China of trade consequences if it ignores sanctions against North Korea," 5 July 2017
But officials say frustration has grown in the White House with China's reluctance to tighten the screws on Pyongyang as much as Washington would have liked.

— Alaska Dispatch News, "China vows to step up air and sea patrols after U.S. warship sails near disputed island," 3 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reluctance.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of reluctance

1629

reluctance Synonyms

Synonyms

disinclination, hesitance, hesitancy, reticence, unwillingness

Antonyms

inclination, willingness

Related Words

faltering, fence-sitting, hesitation, indecision, irresolution, shilly-shallying, staggering, vacillation, wavering, wobbling (also wabbling); distrust, distrustfulness, doubt, incertitude, misdoubt, misgiving, mistrust, mistrustfulness, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainness, uncertainty

Near Antonyms

assurance, assuredness, certainty, certitude, conviction, positiveness, sureness, surety

RELUCTANCE Defined for Kids

reluctance

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noun re·luc·tance \ ri-ˈlək-təns \

Definition of reluctance for Students

:the quality or state of showing doubt or unwillingness

Learn More about reluctance

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for reluctance Spanish Central: Translation of reluctance Nglish: Translation of reluctance for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of reluctance for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about reluctance

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reluctance

Definition of reluctance

Examples of reluctance in a Sentence

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First Known Use of reluctance

reluctance Synonyms

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RELUCTANCE Defined for Kids

reluctance

Definition of reluctance for Students

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reluctance

Definition of reluctance

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