Definition of reluctant
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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
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The right extracurriculars can make even the most reluctant student excited about school.
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Trump further puts U.S. lives at risk as the country depends on intelligence to keep America safe, but allies will be reluctant to share this vital information if the Trump administration can’t keep secrets.
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One reason is that scientists haven’t been able to tie the Ancestral Puebloans to other native populations because tribes in the region have been reluctant to give permission to analyze ancient human remains.
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Committee members also were reluctant to change the law, noting that fewer than 800 complaints is only 1 percent of the county's population.
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However, despite singing Costa's praises, Fassone was reluctant to talk about any potential deal while the 28-year-old remains a Chelsea player.
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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.
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
reluctant Synonyms
Synonyms
cagey (also cagy), disinclined, dubious, indisposed, loath (also loth or loathe), hesitant, reticentAntonyms
disposed, inclinedRelated Words
uneager, unenthusiastic; averse, unwilling; ambivalent, conflicted, doubtful, faltering, halting, indecisive, infirm, irresolute, questioning, skeptical, uncertain, undecided, unsure, vacillating, wobbly (also wabbly); fainthearted, shy, timidNear Antonyms
eager, enthusiastic, glad, happy, keen; ready, willing; certain, decided, determined, resolute, sure, unquestioningSynonym 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.
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- disinclined to move again
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- disinclined for reading
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- hesitant about asking for a date
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- a reluctant witness
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- seems loath to trust anyone
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- averse to hard work
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- not averse to an occasional drink
RELUCTANT Defined for English Language Learners
reluctant
play
adjective
Definition 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
play
adjective
re·luc·tant
\
ri-ˈlək-tənt
\
Definition of reluctant for Students
:showing doubt or unwillingness
- She was reluctant to go.
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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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