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
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 source material for The Spiderwick Chronicles is aimed squarely at children, and in part the show’s shallowness seems to stem from a reluctance to lose too much of its kid-friendly lightness.
—
Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Apr. 2024
Keeping with a traditional view of the in-person work dynamic, Jassy also expressed reluctance for the four-day work week.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2024
The reluctance of Chinese consumers could be a problem for the U.S. and other countries, which have voiced mounting worries that Chinese exports could flood their markets in a bid to find willing spenders.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Another thread in Welch’s GE strategy was a reluctance to spook investors by risking money on expensive long-term projects.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
To understand the promise of dual-phase materials, start with some basics about synchronous reluctance motors.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Mar. 2024
For 60 years, Kitty Genovese has endured as a symbol of big-city apathy, the victim not only of a knife-wielding killer but also of her neighbors’ reluctance to get involved.
—Clyde Haberman, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024
States frustrated with the federal government’s reluctance to pass new regulations on railroads have also tried to pass restrictions on train length and blocked crossings.
—Josh Funk, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024
Munoz, in the statement, attacked Donald Trump, on the other hand, as lacking money and energy and facing challenges like reluctance from some GOP primary voters and criticism from his former vice president, Mike Pence.
—Libby Cathey, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2024
Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Apr. 2024
Keeping with a traditional view of the in-person work dynamic, Jassy also expressed reluctance for the four-day work week.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2024
The reluctance of Chinese consumers could be a problem for the U.S. and other countries, which have voiced mounting worries that Chinese exports could flood their markets in a bid to find willing spenders.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Another thread in Welch’s GE strategy was a reluctance to spook investors by risking money on expensive long-term projects.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
To understand the promise of dual-phase materials, start with some basics about synchronous reluctance motors.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Mar. 2024
For 60 years, Kitty Genovese has endured as a symbol of big-city apathy, the victim not only of a knife-wielding killer but also of her neighbors’ reluctance to get involved.
—Clyde Haberman, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024
States frustrated with the federal government’s reluctance to pass new regulations on railroads have also tried to pass restrictions on train length and blocked crossings.
—Josh Funk, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024
Munoz, in the statement, attacked Donald Trump, on the other hand, as lacking money and energy and facing challenges like reluctance from some GOP primary voters and criticism from his former vice president, Mike Pence.
—Libby Cathey, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reluctance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near reluctance
Cite this Entry
“Reluctance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reluctance. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reluctance
noun
re·luc·tance
ri-ˈlək-tən(t)s
: the quality or state of being reluctant
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