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
There had been suggestions that the team wanted to move Dončić partly because of a potential reluctance to sign a supermax extension with Dallas.
—
Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2025
Psychotherapist, author, and cofounder of the Women Are Mad (WAM) movement Jennifer Cox reports conflict reluctance is more common than ever.
—Samantha Mann, Vogue, 30 Jan. 2025
Congressional reluctance to take a clear stand on the prevention of human trafficking has been underscored by its failure to reauthorize the latest iteration of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, which has been languishing for more than three years despite bipartisan claims of support for it.
—Lori L. Cohen, New York Daily News, 28 Jan. 2025
Military commanders, however, have described a deliberate attempt to seize the legislature that was thwarted by hundreds of civilians and legislative staff who helped lawmakers enter the assembly, and by the troops’ reluctance or refusal to follow Yoon’s orders.
—Kim Tong-Hyung, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for reluctance 
Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2025
Psychotherapist, author, and cofounder of the Women Are Mad (WAM) movement Jennifer Cox reports conflict reluctance is more common than ever.
—Samantha Mann, Vogue, 30 Jan. 2025
Congressional reluctance to take a clear stand on the prevention of human trafficking has been underscored by its failure to reauthorize the latest iteration of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, which has been languishing for more than three years despite bipartisan claims of support for it.
—Lori L. Cohen, New York Daily News, 28 Jan. 2025
Military commanders, however, have described a deliberate attempt to seize the legislature that was thwarted by hundreds of civilians and legislative staff who helped lawmakers enter the assembly, and by the troops’ reluctance or refusal to follow Yoon’s orders.
—Kim Tong-Hyung, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for reluctance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reluctance
Noun
-
And so there’s been no hesitancy with me sending you the Final Draft file.—
Pamela McClintock,
The Hollywood Reporter,
28 Jan. 2025
-
Seems to be a hesitancy to their play, consistent with over-thinking.—
Scott Wheeler,
The Athletic,
29 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Sadly, in practice, a long holiday hangover tends to limit new releases; platforms’ reticence to compete for attention with an inevitable regime-change media frenzy could also be a factor this year.—
Judy Berman,
TIME,
31 Jan. 2025
-
Why the reticence? Despite popular sentiment, there are actually quite a few electric vehicles available for much less than the average new vehicle price of $47,000.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
10 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Lobell said cost plays a key role in the hesitance to innovate.—
James Manso,
WWD,
28 Jan. 2025
-
Renick said that Gemma's hesitance to accept treats likely stems from her past, which remains a mystery but clearly included hardships.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
Newsweek,
9 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Total theaters booked are 4,100 including all premium large format screens and Imax, no doubt.—
Nancy Tartaglione,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2025
-
Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy and all remaining doubts about him lifted as well.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Durant’s disinclination to play for the Warriors doesn’t necessarily prohibit them from trading for him.—
Danny Emerman,
The Mercury News,
6 Feb. 2025
-
There seems to be a disinclination on the part of most Republican senators to oppose the president's nominees.—
Ally Schweitzer,
NPR,
4 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Republican support But other Republicans had no hesitation in backing her.—
David Lightman,
Sacramento Bee,
12 Feb. 2025
-
Additionally, Butler had initial hesitation in going to the Bay.—
Kristan Hawkins,
Newsweek,
6 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near reluctance
Cite this Entry
“Reluctance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reluctance. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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