reluctant

[ri-luhk-tuhnt]

adjective

1. unwilling; disinclined.

   a reluctant candidate.

   Antonyms: willing

2. struggling in opposition.

reluctant

/ rɪˈlʌktənt /

adjective

1. not eager; unwilling; disinclined

2. archaic,  offering resistance or opposition

Other Word Forms

• reluctantly adverb
• half-reluctant adjective
• unreluctant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of reluctant¹

First recorded in 1655–65; from Latin reluctant- (stem of reluctāns ), present participle of reluctārī; reluct, -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of reluctant¹

C17: from Latin reluctārī to resist; see _reluct

Synonym Study

Reluctant, loath, averse describe disinclination toward something. Reluctant implies some sort of mental struggle, as between disinclination and sense of duty: reluctant to expel students. Loath describes extreme disinclination: loath to part from a friend. Averse, used with to and a noun or a gerund, describes a long-held dislike or unwillingness, though not a particularly strong feeling: averse to an idea; averse to getting up early.

Example Sentences

Inspectors also highlighted a "blame culture" at the trust, which resulted in staff being reluctant to raise concerns and incidents.

Read more on BBC

Labour had been reluctant to stress arguments about economic downsides from Brexit.

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Of course, Edwards will be reluctant to change a winning team but there are still issues to be addressed in the batting line-up.

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Banks are fighting new competitors from Silicon Valley, and many workers remain reluctant to come to any office five days a week, making it harder to keep them around.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

At the bottom of a bear market or a crash, many investors are reluctant to buy stocks even at cheap prices because of a fear of further losses.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• afraid 
• averse 
• cautious 
• circumspect 
• hesitant 
• loath 
• shy 
• slow 
• squeamish 
• uncertain 
• wary