as in unwillingness
a lack of willingness or desire to do or accept something
the mice showed an odd reluctance to eat the cheese we had put out for them
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reluctance
Trump has expressed reluctance to strike Iranian oil infrastructure for risk of escalating the war and sending gas prices at home surging even higher.
—
Justin Fishel, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
Instead, there was a perceptible rise in militant attacks within Pakistan, accompanied by Kabul’s reluctance or inability to decisively act against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
—Rabia Akhtar, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
Even today most of us will accept the disenchantments of knowledge only with great reluctance.
—Robert Pogue Harrison, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026
Trump again criticized allies for their reluctance to get involved to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping route off the coast of Iran that the Islamic Republic has vowed to keep closed.
—Yarden Segev, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reluctance
Justin Fishel, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
Instead, there was a perceptible rise in militant attacks within Pakistan, accompanied by Kabul’s reluctance or inability to decisively act against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
—Rabia Akhtar, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
Even today most of us will accept the disenchantments of knowledge only with great reluctance.
—Robert Pogue Harrison, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026
Trump again criticized allies for their reluctance to get involved to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping route off the coast of Iran that the Islamic Republic has vowed to keep closed.
—Yarden Segev, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reluctance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reluctance
Noun
-
As in the unwillingness to sell out defensively on a consistent basis.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
25 Mar. 2026
-
When systems fail—whether through release decisions, lack of coordination, or unwillingness to act—the consequences are not abstract.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Since the conflict in Iran began, travel agents have reported some hesitancy among travelers to purchase upcoming cruises.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Lindsay pointed out that that hesitancy, combined with the ongoing controversy, may lead viewers to lose trust in the franchise as a whole.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As Leland, a teen who kills his ex-girlfriend’s developmentally disabled brother, Gosling mostly stays blank and vacant; his unwavering reticence is required by Matthew Ryan Hoge’s script, which relies on a final reveal to justify its existence.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
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In Florida’s capital, there was little stomach for persistent deep-state reticence.—
Adam Ciralsky,
Vanity Fair,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That the Astros even added Vázquez underscores their hesitance to hand César Salazar the backup role, despite Salazar’s familiarity with their pitching staff and strong clubhouse reputation.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
17 Mar. 2026
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Analysts have noted Mojtaba's lack of adequate religious credentials and hesitance within the regime to oversee a dynastic succession as marks against his candidacy to be the next supreme leader.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
When doubts appear, trust yourself enough not to back down.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
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There is no doubt that new generations of creative individuals are already emerging—ready to carry that tradition forward.—
Norman Foster,
Artforum,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The same disinclination would normally apply.—
Chicago Tribune,
Twin Cities,
30 Nov. 2025
-
Beauty’s at-times reluctance to embrace TikTok Shop as a channel mirrors the industry’s longtime disinclination toward Amazon, an attitude that has shifted in recent years as the e-commerce giant’s beauty business has grown at an incontrovertible clip.—
Noor Lobad,
Footwear News,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reluctance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reluctance. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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