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
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
The supply issue partly reflects years of underbuilding after the 2008 financial crisis, as well as the reluctance of homeowners who locked in ultra-low mortgage rates during the ensuing recession to relinquish their properties.
—
Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
But Trump’s reluctance to rule out taking military action to annex the world's largest non-continental island has frustrated many members of the president's own party.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Washington, of course, would come to be remembered for his restraint—his reluctance to take power, his keen awareness of his own stature, and his willingness to step away after two terms.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Barack Obama also availed himself of caution, reluctance and NATO partners to use air power to subdue chaos on the ground in Libya.
—John Brummett, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reluctance
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Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
But Trump’s reluctance to rule out taking military action to annex the world's largest non-continental island has frustrated many members of the president's own party.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Washington, of course, would come to be remembered for his restraint—his reluctance to take power, his keen awareness of his own stature, and his willingness to step away after two terms.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Barack Obama also availed himself of caution, reluctance and NATO partners to use air power to subdue chaos on the ground in Libya.
—John Brummett, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reluctance
Cite this Entry
“Reluctance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reluctance. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reluctance
noun
re·luc·tance
ri-ˈlək-tən(t)s
: the quality or state of being reluctant
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