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

Synonyms of reluctance

• unwillingness
• hesitancy
• reticence
• hesitance
• doubt
• disinclination

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

At the time, the move was notable mainly because of Berkshire's long-standing reluctance to dive into high-growth tech names, other than Apple. —Yun Li, CNBC, 7 Dec. 2025

Advertisement Beyond this, the document breaks from European officials in their reluctance to name Russia as a threat. —Connor Greene, Time, 6 Dec. 2025

Another angry group is theater owners, who have famously warred with Netflix for years over the big red streamer’s reluctance, even refusal to follow traditional theatrical-release practices. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025

House Republicans have been trying to get the plan approved, but there’s some reluctance in the Senate, where lawmakers fear a voter backlash. —David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for reluctance

• conductance
• inductance
• transconductance

Kids Definition

reluctance

noun

re·​luc·​tance ri-ˈlək-tən(t)s 

: the quality or state of being reluctant