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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of reluctance
Second, the legal system’s reluctance to acknowledge its mistakes virtually ensures that some wrongs are never corrected – even when questions are raised about the evidence and witnesses underpinning a conviction.
—
Terry W., The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Oct. 2024
His reluctance to seize a leadership role on the Serbian national team this summer revealed a defining contradiction in his life these days: one between the sway his voice has and his own perception of how strong that sway is.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2024
His previous relationship, spanning nine years, came to an end due to his reluctance to commit.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 15 Oct. 2024
Still, at the same time, Trump has baselessly questioned the voting method and shown reluctance to cast ballots through mail-in voting.
—Soo Rin Kim, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reluctance 
Terry W., The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Oct. 2024
His reluctance to seize a leadership role on the Serbian national team this summer revealed a defining contradiction in his life these days: one between the sway his voice has and his own perception of how strong that sway is.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2024
His previous relationship, spanning nine years, came to an end due to his reluctance to commit.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 15 Oct. 2024
Still, at the same time, Trump has baselessly questioned the voting method and shown reluctance to cast ballots through mail-in voting.
—Soo Rin Kim, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reluctance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reluctance
Noun
-
The event signals a substantial nod of confidence in Harris from a critical part of the LGBTQ+ community that has historically eyed her with hesitancy.Condé Nast, Them, 15 Aug. 2024
-
Many attribute their hesitancy to the perception that physicians are unwilling or unable to help.Henry Bair, STAT, 31 July 2024
Noun
-
In some respects, Meta’s reticence is just part of a broader cultural shift.Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2024
-
Part of the reason for the reticence must be the high capital costs associated with installing the ASU and new burners, but part is due to the natural conservatism of power plant operators.Erik Kobayashi-Solomon, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
Hollywood’s hesitance to fully embrace non-English programming remains a barrier, but that seems to have fallen this year.Clayton Davis, Variety, 16 Sep. 2024
-
The Ransomware Surge and the Cost of Inaction Ransomware also remains a lucrative and low-risk endeavor for cybercriminals, fueled by organizations’ hesitance to disrupt their operations with preventive measures.Craig Burland, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024
Noun
-
The company believes there is no longer substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern due to recent business improvements and actions taken by management.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
-
But just in case there were any doubts, the Lakers’ 131-114 loss, which dropped them to 4-4 overall and 1-4 on their road trip, was a reminder.Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
Cui said that disinclination is partly because high existing household savings would necessitate a cash infusion of hundreds of billions of dollars to have a notable effect.Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024
-
Horowitz’s disinclination to pay his bills has inspired complaints over the years, some on legal stationery.Tad Friend, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
While the women are coming in oozing with persona and charisma, there is still a sense of hesitation in trying to mark their territory.Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2024
-
In new partnerships, there’s often a sense of hesitation as both sides gauge each other’s commitment.Benjamin Laker, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near reluctance
Cite this Entry
“Reluctance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reluctance. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share