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
Haiti’s business community has long been criticized for monopolistic practices and a reluctance to collaborate.
—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
26 June 2026
The reason for this defeat was not a reluctance to use force.
—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
19 June 2026
In what may be a sign of Ossoff’s reluctance to discuss a 2028 campaign for president, his campaign declined USA TODAY's request for an interview.
—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Of course, such individual reluctance does little to blunt the effects of their choices.
—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for reluctance
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
26 June 2026
The reason for this defeat was not a reluctance to use force.
—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
19 June 2026
In what may be a sign of Ossoff’s reluctance to discuss a 2028 campaign for president, his campaign declined USA TODAY's request for an interview.
—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Of course, such individual reluctance does little to blunt the effects of their choices.
—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for reluctance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reluctance
Noun
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The president’s intense desire to reopen the Strait of Hormuz has taken priority over longer-term concerns, conceding the initiative to Iran by his unwillingness to act.
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His unwillingness to back Hilton drew a roundabout rebuke from California Republican Party Chair Corrin Rankin.
Noun
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Part of it is a hesitancy to trade veterans on expiring contracts (prior to this season’s trades with Buffalo) to get picks back.
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Another common problem for leaders is dealing with the pressure to innovate or the hesitancy to invest from the board.
Noun
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Pennick and Kathy Elgas had — yet again — bantered that very morning over his reticence to adopt another cat, with the volunteer emphasizing the overwhelming need and Pennick stressing his need to protect his heart from the inevitable pain of a cat eventually dying.
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The reticence of Cartland’s heroes belies agonies of loneliness.
Noun
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That hesitance in the Republican Party coexists with palpable relief that there’s a ceasefire agreement in the Middle East after months of strikes on Iran.
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Others, like Choi, believe that knowledge gaps are to blame for donor hesitance to get involved.
Noun
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The prosecutor’s office, taking a fresh look at the murder, learned the lead investigator shared those doubts.
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Caicedo has made a name for himself as a regular starter for Chelsea in recent years — and his appearance in the Champions League leaves no doubt about his experience in high stakes matches.
Noun
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Culturally, the word is synonymous with ugly, not just for the ways lesbians defy traditional gender roles in the popular imagination but for their disinclination toward and unavailability to men.
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The same disinclination would normally apply.
Cite this Entry
“Reluctance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reluctance. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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