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

Recent buyers were reluctant for a few reasons.

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City officials said the partnership was necessary because large private operators have been reluctant to open a store in poorer neighborhoods.

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Williams was also told that some trading desks are reluctant to borrow from the SRF because it diverts financial resources they could otherwise devote to trading with regular clients, the people said.

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By force of personality and deadlines, he is trying to jam though a plan to stop a grinding conflict between two reluctant warring parties.

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Many institutional investors say they are reluctant to back private-equity managers that oversee large amounts of retail money.

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Related Words

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