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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Bradley Stein, a researcher at the RAND Corporation, recently found that even those doctors cleared to prescribe buprenorphine often seem reluctant to do so.
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But if HHS waters down federal protections, others may be reluctant to hop on.
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Nelsan was ashamed of his addiction and thus was reluctant to talk about it during his life.
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Some families who want help for their radicalized children are reluctant to seek it, fearing they will be investigated and punished by local security services.
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Slow to crawl on the sand, Winnie’s descent into the water was reluctant.
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Alabama head coach Nick Saban was initially reluctant to allow Smith to transfer to Georgia, but eventually relented after Smith appealed to the SEC.
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And those states’ Republican senators have been conspicuously reluctant to voice support for the bill.
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That would give McConnell $198 billion to fund special provisions to Senators reluctant to support the bill, while keeping the bill withing budget guidelines.
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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