as in hesitant
slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty
I'm reluctant to let you borrow my vintage CDs since you never give back anything I lend you
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example 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 reluctant
However, India is reluctant to let goods like agriculture and dairy be imported, which is likely proving to be a roadblock in the negotiations, said former Indian Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation Jayant Dasgupta.
—
Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 22 May 2025
Serena's reluctant to put a target on her husband's head, so June happily reminds her that Gabriel's a tyrant not fit to raise Noah.
—EW.com, 20 May 2025
The couple's sons, Trevor and Trenton Stermer, began to suspect there was more to the story, when their mother seemed reluctant to share certain details.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 20 May 2025
Foreign governments are increasingly reluctant to crack down on U.S. tech firms—not just because of their digital leverage and economic clout but also because doing so could provoke official backlash from Washington.
—Ian Bremmer, Foreign Affairs, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for reluctant
Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 22 May 2025
Serena's reluctant to put a target on her husband's head, so June happily reminds her that Gabriel's a tyrant not fit to raise Noah.
—EW.com, 20 May 2025
The couple's sons, Trevor and Trenton Stermer, began to suspect there was more to the story, when their mother seemed reluctant to share certain details.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 20 May 2025
Foreign governments are increasingly reluctant to crack down on U.S. tech firms—not just because of their digital leverage and economic clout but also because doing so could provoke official backlash from Washington.
—Ian Bremmer, Foreign Affairs, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for reluctant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reluctant
hesitant
Adjective
-
While some organizations are understandably hesitant to abandon on-premises infrastructure entirely due to concerns over security, regulatory compliance, and data control, the reality is that maintaining an AI-ready on-premises data center often proves cost-prohibitive and operationally unfeasible.—
Ivo Ivanov,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
-
That prospect has left a number of moderate and vulnerable Republicans hesitant to cut a program that covers their constituents and risk facing political backlash in next year’s elections.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reluctant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reluctant. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share