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
Poor projections, the high price tag of Democratic policy promises and a reluctance to make long-term sweeping cuts have added to the deficit at a time when the governor regularly touts California’s place as the fourth-largest economy in the world.
—
Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025
Deep specialization and reluctance to make lateral moves reinforce the idea that up is the only way forward.
—Tonushree Mondal, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Aid trucks carrying food have long had difficulty reaching Zamzam, thanks to ongoing violence, bad roads, and the Sudanese government’s reluctance to let international organizations operate in areas controlled by its rivals.
—Lynsey Addario, The Atlantic, 12 May 2025
His unwise challenge of an Evander Kane goal in Game 3 started the deluge, and the combination of his reluctance to use the guys at the end of his bench and a prevent defense mentality certainly didn’t help as the Oilers consistently outplayed the Kings in the third period and beyond.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for reluctance
Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025
Deep specialization and reluctance to make lateral moves reinforce the idea that up is the only way forward.
—Tonushree Mondal, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Aid trucks carrying food have long had difficulty reaching Zamzam, thanks to ongoing violence, bad roads, and the Sudanese government’s reluctance to let international organizations operate in areas controlled by its rivals.
—Lynsey Addario, The Atlantic, 12 May 2025
His unwise challenge of an Evander Kane goal in Game 3 started the deluge, and the combination of his reluctance to use the guys at the end of his bench and a prevent defense mentality certainly didn’t help as the Oilers consistently outplayed the Kings in the third period and beyond.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for reluctance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reluctance
Noun
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The gaming industry has been hit hard in recent years with layoffs, delayed funding and investor hesitancy.—
Chris Hewish,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
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That’s due to several factors, such as challenges related to cost and access and hesitancy among some cardiologists and primary care physicians.—
Annika Kim Constantino,Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Yet two years after the team was quick to lock up quarterback Joe Burrow to a long-term contract extension in 2023, its reticence to hand a similarly lucrative extension to edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, despite leading the NFL in sacks last season, has led to an offseason standoff.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
14 May 2025
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In an exclusive excerpt shared with PEOPLE, the author wrote how a major sticking point of the couple's early relationship was Kennedy's reticence to introduce Bessette to his mother.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
13 May 2025
Noun
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But that is where the similarities end, and where the hesitance to believe the Knicks had a chance at the reigning champs seeps in deep.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
6 May 2025
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This hesitance only reinforces the false narrative that race is a divisive topic rather than an integral part of understanding American society.—
Anne Tapp Jaksa,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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There were doubts Florida would ever consistently make the playoffs, let alone be annual Stanley Cup contenders.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2025
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There is little doubt about where Fils will want to play.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Noun
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Its weakness is an intermittent lack of vulnerability and an occasional disinclination to leave all of that behind and pull out individual characters who have figured out that their travails flow from the difficulty of stopping American family life from turning into a Sam Shepard play.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2025
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On the contrary, these works form a trail of historical and imagined personalities, full of desires and disinclinations that misalign.—
Rachel Vorona Cote,
The Atlantic,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Lionel says yes, and before more than a few moments go by the two have tumbled into bed, without fear or hesitation.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
21 May 2025
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That’s where the Oracle of Omaha’s other main hesitation with real estate factors in: Buying property is often a hassle.—
Ryan Ermey,
CNBC,
21 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reluctance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reluctance. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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