Definition of reluctant
reluctantly
adverbFrom the M-W Editors
Examples of reluctant in a Sentence
94% of the butterflies are females, and they jostle for the attention of the few males, who seem reluctant suitors. —Carl Zimmer, Science, 11 May 2001
The man swore sullenly. He went over to a corner and slowly began to put on his coat. He took his hat and went out, with a dragging, reluctant step. —Stephen Crane, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, 1893
The woman seemed desirous, yet reluctant, to speak, and answered, in low, mysterious tone. —Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin, 1852
When I missed five in a row and was reluctant to take the next shot or didn't really follow through, my teammates would yell, “Brick!” —Bill Bradley, New York Times, 18 Dec. 1994
We were reluctant to get involved.
He might agree but seems reluctant to admit it.
Recent Examples of reluctant from the Web
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But a court likely would be reluctant to issue an injunction against testimony before Congress.
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While India was reluctant to join the Paris Agreement in 2015, the nation has also reiterated its commitment to the pact.
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By Act II, the reluctant singer is lured back to New York to be on the starring bill of the Ziegfeld Follies of 1936 with her costumes and scenic design by Vincente Minnelli.
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At the time, many Americans shared the view of President Woodrow Wilson and were reluctant to enter the war.
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A tribal dispute began in 2015 after a drone strike in the area, when the senior figure confronted other tribal leaders who were reluctant to ban Al Qaeda members from the area.
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As such, the Trumps are often reluctant to part with the fees, even after members leave their clubs.
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Claire was growing restless and wanted to learn at her own pace, but her parents were reluctant to home-school their only daughter.
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As such, most employers are reluctant to hire students with disabilities.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reluctant'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of reluctant
Latin reluctant-, reluctans, present participle of reluctari to struggle against, from re- + luctari to struggle
Synonym Discussion of reluctant
RELUCTANT Defined for English Language Learners
reluctant
playDefinition of reluctant for English Language Learners
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: feeling or showing doubt about doing something : not willing or eager to do something
RELUCTANT Defined for Kids
reluctant
playDefinition of reluctant for Students
: showing doubt or unwillingness She was reluctant to go.
reluctantly
adverbLearn More about reluctant
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for reluctant Spanish Central: Translation of reluctant Nglish: Translation of reluctant for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of reluctant for Arabic speakers
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