reluctance

noun

re·​luc·​tance ri-ˈlək-tən(t)s 

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

Synonyms of reluctance

• unwillingness
• hesitancy
• reticence
• hesitance
• doubt
• disinclination

Examples of reluctance in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

But the phones will face a stiffer challenge than previous Pro smartphones, thanks to the market conditions forcing a price rise, weaker-than-expected upgrades, and consumer reluctance. — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Friedman and Horvath’s reluctance to endorse also reflects a broader tension among Democratic officials navigating the party’s ideological civil war. — Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 29 July 2026

Apple has outperformed the market as investors have rewarded its reluctance to spend heavily on capital expenditures for AI, preferring to rent capacity instead of building its own. — Kif Leswing, CNBC, 27 July 2026

In a seller’s market, however, he might be constrained by a dearth of prospect capital and some reluctance to trade from the back of his big-league bullpen. — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 26 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for reluctance

• conductance
• inductance
• transconductance

Kids Definition

reluctance

noun

re·​luc·​tance ri-ˈlək-tən(t)s 

: the quality or state of being reluctant