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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of reluctance
Camille voiced her need to feel safe before sharing physical intimacy, and while Thomas’s patience was commendable, his reluctance to assert himself might hinder their dynamic.
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Miguel Santiago, People.com, 27 Nov. 2024
Following the failure of Trump's controversial selection of former congressman Matt Gaetz as U.S. attorney general, bettors may be banking on Trump's reluctance to choose another nominee likely to face high hurdles in being confirmed by the Senate.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024
Biden, who showed his own reluctance to step aside, doesn’t appear likely to ask Sotomayor to give up her lifetime appointment.
—Leonard Greene, Orlando Sentinel, 23 Nov. 2024
Jim Harbaugh’s reluctance to engage in bidding wars for recruits was one reason Michigan was perceived as a long shot in Underwood’s recruitment.
—Austin Meek, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reluctance 
Miguel Santiago, People.com, 27 Nov. 2024
Following the failure of Trump's controversial selection of former congressman Matt Gaetz as U.S. attorney general, bettors may be banking on Trump's reluctance to choose another nominee likely to face high hurdles in being confirmed by the Senate.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024
Biden, who showed his own reluctance to step aside, doesn’t appear likely to ask Sotomayor to give up her lifetime appointment.
—Leonard Greene, Orlando Sentinel, 23 Nov. 2024
Jim Harbaugh’s reluctance to engage in bidding wars for recruits was one reason Michigan was perceived as a long shot in Underwood’s recruitment.
—Austin Meek, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reluctance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reluctance
Noun
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Related article What to do if your flight is canceled or delayed One reason for the hesitancy is that prices at the grocery store remain elevated to cook that classic Thanksgiving dinner.Alexandra Skores, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024
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But there was also a hesitancy at the back that allowed the visitors to stride forward unopposed.Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 18 Aug. 2024
Noun
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Rodgers’ explanations for his reticence to throw it deep have ranged from the offensive line needing to hold blocks for longer to, last week, the Colts defense deploying two-high coverage and forcing him into dump-offs and short throws.Zack Rosenblatt, The Athletic, 22 Nov. 2024
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In person, the actress exudes intellectual intensity and modish English reticence, though there’s a certain mischievous energy, of the kind that defined her early performances, that glimmers in her eyes.Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
Noun
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As the war in Ukraine escalated and the enmity between Moscow and its Western rivals deepened, Lukashenko's apparent hesitance to fully commit to the conflict seems to have bought him some level of freedom from retaliation.David Brennan, ABC News, 5 Dec. 2024
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That regulatory hesitance has spurred a boom in e-wallets and digital banks across the Asia-Pacific region, as companies target unbanked and underbanked populations in developing markets.Chris Morris, Fortune Asia, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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But experts have expressed doubts on Moscow's ability or willingness to dedicate the resources necessary to save Assad amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
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This is the music that carried us through break ups and mean girls, micro aggressions and self doubt, but also lifted us through mile 24 of a marathon and bachelorette weekends, slumber parties and carpool lines.Laura Trujillo, USA TODAY, 7 Dec. 2024
Noun
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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
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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
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Focus on retention, education, activation, new tech and rewarding your people to start the next year with momentum, not hesitation.Yogesh Shah, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
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Despite potential hesitation from fellow Republicans, Trump persists that the former Fox News host is ethically equipped to handle the role.Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 7 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near reluctance
Cite this Entry
“Reluctance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reluctance. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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