reluctant

adjective re·luc·tant \ ri-ˈlək-tənt \

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

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Examples: reluctant in a Sentence

Definition of reluctant

: feeling or showing aversion, hesitation, or unwillingness

reluctant to get involved

; also : having or assuming a specified role unwillingly

a reluctant hero

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reluctantly

adverb

See reluctant defined for English-language learners

See reluctant defined for kids

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
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
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
We were reluctant to get involved.
He might agree but seems reluctant to admit it.

Recent Examples of reluctant from the Web

Despite his lofty billing, Mahomes was reluctant to promote himself last year, preferring to remain in Smith’s shadow on a team that won the AFC West for the second consecutive season.

— lindsay h. jones, USA TODAY, "Hype or hero? Patrick Mahomes builds big excitement as Chiefs' top QB," 8 June 2018
However, following a slow start to the campaign, Perez and co. were reluctant to offer such a lucrative sum, and the thought of cashing in on what appeared to be a dwindling star seemed a possibility.

— SI.com, "Spanish Reports Claim Real Madrid Open Exit Door for Cristiano Ronaldo But Want Staggering €1bn Fee," 8 June 2018
Bourdain was reluctant to analyze why his series succeeded.

— CBS News, "Anthony Bourdain, celebrity chef and CNN host, dead in apparent suicide at 61," 8 June 2018
That’s something that Apple CEO Tim Cook has a history of being reluctant about, particularly regarding health applications for the Apple Watch.

— shoshana wodinsky, The Verge, "Apple drew up a patent for a new kind of blood pressure monitor," 7 June 2018
But with a tight cap situation that is going to get even tighter once quarterback Carson Wentz gets his second NFL contract, the Eagles might be reluctant to re-sign a 30-year-old defensive end to a long-term, big-money deal.

— paul domowitch, Philly.com, "How Eagles' Brandon Graham overcame pair of injuries in Super Bowl to sack Tom Brady," 7 June 2018
But Obama, proudly defying political convention and confident in the larger forces of progress, was reluctant to acknowledge that inaction, too, is an action.

— george packer, The New Yorker, "Witnessing the Obama Presidency, from Start to Finish," 5 June 2018
Villaraigosa has also been reluctant to support the twin tunnels project, saying through a spokesperson that other options could be pursued.

— los angeles times staff, latimes.com, "Where the candidates for California governor stand on the state's biggest issues," 4 June 2018
One of the officers began talking to Keith, who was reluctant to put down the tool.

— alisa roth, Vox, "A worried mom wanted the police to take her mentally ill son to the hospital. They shot him.," 30 May 2018

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

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First Known Use: 1638

in the meaning defined above

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reluctant Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of reluctant

disinclined, hesitant, reluctant, loath, averse mean lacking the will or desire to do something indicated. disinclined implies lack of taste for or inclination.