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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reluctance
Inadequate investigative staffing, reluctance to credit inmate testimony, and weak disciplinary processes allowed misconduct to persist.
—
Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
That so many businesses came together for the statement was an achievement, given the customary reluctance of corporate leaders to address incendiary political issues.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
At one point, while discussing the prospect of federal officers entering residences without a warrant, the judge expressed reluctance to decide issues not yet raised in a lawsuit before her.
—Steve Karnowski, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
Some reluctance stems from the belief that other customers will perceive solo diners or moviegoers as sad or lonely.
—Peter McGraw, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reluctance
Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
That so many businesses came together for the statement was an achievement, given the customary reluctance of corporate leaders to address incendiary political issues.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
At one point, while discussing the prospect of federal officers entering residences without a warrant, the judge expressed reluctance to decide issues not yet raised in a lawsuit before her.
—Steve Karnowski, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
Some reluctance stems from the belief that other customers will perceive solo diners or moviegoers as sad or lonely.
—Peter McGraw, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reluctance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reluctance
Noun
-
And there are signs that assumptions about men’s unwillingness to use such products are eroding.—
Ana Castelain,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Jets owner Woody Johnson even criticized Fields for his inept play and unwillingness to throw the ball quickly.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There are plenty of directions the franchise could go, but a hesitancy to commit to anything more than one-off stories.—
Richard Newby,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Jan. 2026
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Big money’s hesitancy Wall Street hasn’t jumped on board with the same fervor as the average Joe.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
25 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
That reticence may well have helped to diminish his reputation; indeed, his contribution has been largely eclipsed by that of his eldest son, the abstract painter and sculptor Ben Nicholson.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
8 Jan. 2026
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Still, the focus on Venezuela could help distract from Putin’s reticence to strike a deal with Ukraine.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But the unwillingness to even take them, the same hesitance that Nance and most others believed was in the past, is hurting his overall game.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2026
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After a little practice breathing through the tube and getting past her initial hesitance, Jenner puts her face into the water, and comes back up immediately, her hair stuck to her skin.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Negotiations between the two sides are poised to resume on Sunday amid doubts about Moscow's commitment to a settlement.—
AAMER MADHANI AND SUSIE BLANN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
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Some Minnesotans reacted with doubt and concern to Homan’s announcement Thursday, as many residents’ trust in law enforcement has been eroded by the killings of two residents, weeks of clashes and a troubled history of high-profile tragedies.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 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 2 Feb. 2026.
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