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
Group opponents Al Hilal, Pachuca and Salzburg will all hope to take advantage of any reluctance and shock Madrid on such a big stage.
—
Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 17 June 2025
Perhaps that explains Emmy voters’ reluctance to go all in and reward young actors.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2025
Is there a reason why there seems to be a reluctance to truly set the majority of these films’ runtimes in highly populated areas?
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2025
Behind the reluctance of some to relax the rule — or eliminate it altogether — is the fear of La Grange becoming like some Chicago suburbs that attract problems with antisocial behavior that can come with too many bars where patrons could get out of hand.
—Hank Beckman, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for reluctance
Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 17 June 2025
Perhaps that explains Emmy voters’ reluctance to go all in and reward young actors.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2025
Is there a reason why there seems to be a reluctance to truly set the majority of these films’ runtimes in highly populated areas?
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2025
Behind the reluctance of some to relax the rule — or eliminate it altogether — is the fear of La Grange becoming like some Chicago suburbs that attract problems with antisocial behavior that can come with too many bars where patrons could get out of hand.
—Hank Beckman, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for reluctance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reluctance
Noun
-
This public mandate for bold climate action stands in sharp contrast to the political hesitancy now on display.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
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While the #MeToo movement has set the stage for French society to listen when survivors of abuse come forward, there is still some hesitancy within families to accept what happened at Bétharram.—
Colette Davidson,
Christian Science Monitor,
13 May 2025
Noun
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Presently, swapping her reticence for a politely commanding air, Victor unfolded herself from the tiny stool and approached the hostess stand.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
29 June 2025
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The Supreme Court's reticence to stop President Donald Trump from revoking automatic birthright citizenship to anyone born in the United States has set off shockwaves among migrant communities.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
28 June 2025
Noun
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Several major automakers are investing billions of dollars into American EV production despite the U.S. hesitance to adopt EVs.—
Charles Singh,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
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Despite hesitance from some Republican senators, all of Trump’s nominees who have come for a vote on the floor have been confirmed, even his most contentious picks.—
Elizabeth Crisp,
The Hill,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Serena Peng, a Seattle resident visiting Tokyo, described having initial doubts after seeing online speculation but ultimately continuing with her trip.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 July 2025
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Given today’s network of satellites and temperature sensors, when could scientists have first known, beyond a reasonable doubt, that increases in atmospheric CO2 from fossil fuel burning and land use change were altering our global climate?—
Ben Santer,
Scientific American,
4 July 2025
Noun
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The author’s own disinclination toward literary experiment likely stemmed from a belief that the social demanded more moral attention than the psychological.—
Thomas Mallon,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
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Its weakness is an intermittent lack of vulnerability and an occasional disinclination to leave all of that behind and pull out individual characters who have figured out that their travails flow from the difficulty of stopping American family life from turning into a Sam Shepard play.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Their only hesitation were their concerns for his future.—
Angela Andaloro,
People.com,
26 June 2025
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These travelers pausing their U.S. visits aren't swearing off the U.S. forever, but their hesitation shows the country's current political actions aren't going unnoticed.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reluctance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reluctance. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
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