reluctance
noun
re·luc·tance
ri-ˈlək-tən(t)s 
1
: the quality or state of being reluctant
2
: the opposition offered in a magnetic circuit to magnetic flux
specifically
: the ratio of the magnetic potential difference to the corresponding flux
Examples of reluctance in a Sentence
the mice showed an odd reluctance to eat the cheese we had put out for them
Recent Examples on the Web
Xi’s words contrast with his emphasis on traditional gender roles, which has created a reluctance among officials to break families apart.
—
Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025
As Obama, 61, explains in her new book, co-written with longtime stylist Meredith Koop, that smart hire led to some of the most iconic looks in the White House despite her reluctance to talk about fashion while performing her duties as First Lady.
—Kaity Velez, Parents, 10 Nov. 2025
Smith has long been open about their history of struggle with body issues, including in a 2019 post in which the singer posed shirtless on a beach and described a reluctance early in their career to take photos without a shirt on.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 6 Nov. 2025
But the plan also reveals Beijing’s reluctance to depart from a formula that has yielded growth at the cost of imbalances that have hurt many households across the vast country.
—Shaoyu Yuan, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reluctance
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025
As Obama, 61, explains in her new book, co-written with longtime stylist Meredith Koop, that smart hire led to some of the most iconic looks in the White House despite her reluctance to talk about fashion while performing her duties as First Lady.
—Kaity Velez, Parents, 10 Nov. 2025
Smith has long been open about their history of struggle with body issues, including in a 2019 post in which the singer posed shirtless on a beach and described a reluctance early in their career to take photos without a shirt on.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 6 Nov. 2025
But the plan also reveals Beijing’s reluctance to depart from a formula that has yielded growth at the cost of imbalances that have hurt many households across the vast country.
—Shaoyu Yuan, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reluctance
Cite this Entry
“Reluctance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reluctance. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reluctance
noun
re·luc·tance
ri-ˈlək-tən(t)s
: the quality or state of being reluctant
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share