RELUCTANCES Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

reluctance

noun

ri-ˈlək-tən(t)s

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

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Recent Examples of reluctance To explain Catherine’s initial reluctance to share her dad’s mathematical masterpiece with Hal (and the rest of academia) would be to spoil far too much of Proof‘s first-act leap and second act plot. —

Greg Evans, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026 Trump has been at odds with Starmer over his reluctance to get involved in the war and help the United States. —

Mallory Wilson, The Hill, 14 Apr. 2026 While historically, there’s been a reluctance among early investors to get into defense, that is now changing as a result of recent developments. —

Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026 In Season 4, the challenges don’t quite stack up, and there’s a reluctance on the creators’ part to really sink their teeth into the whirlwind of producing late-night TV. —

Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reluctance

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reluctance

Noun

The problem with the exhibition is not the works of art on view, but its ambiguous premise, its unwillingness to define its terms and approach the Lost Cause with historical clarity.

— Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026
The freshman North Side alderman had led the committee for eight months beginning with Burnett’s departure, but since the start of the year showed an increasing unwillingness to continue as interim.

— Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026