Synonyms for reluctant
rɪˈlʌk təntre·luc·tant

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:2.3 / 3 votes

1. reluctantadjective

   Synonyms:
   disinclined, unwilling

2. reluctantadjective

   Opposing; offering resistance (to).

   Synonyms:
   unwilling, disinclined

3. reluctantadjective

   Not wanting to take some action; unwilling.

   She was reluctant to lend him the money

   Synonyms:
   disinclined, unwilling

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. reluctant

   Reluctant (Latin re, back, and lucto, strive, struggle) signifies struggling against what one is urged or impelled to do, or is actually doing; averse (Latin a, from, and verto, turn) signifies turned away as with dislike or repugnance; loath (Anglo-Saxon lath, evil, hateful) signifies having a repugnance, disgust, or loathing for, tho the adjective loath is not so strong as the verb loathe. A dunce is always averse to study; a good student is disinclined to it when a fine morning tempts him out; he is indisposed to it in some hour of weariness. A man may be slow or backward in entering upon that to which he is by no means averse. A man is loath to believe evil of his friend, reluctant to speak of it, absolutely unwilling to use it to his injury. A legislator may be opposed to a certain measure, while not averse to what it aims to accomplish. Compare ANTIPATHY.

   Synonyms:
   averse, backward, disinclined, indisposed, loath, opposed, slow, unwilling

   Antonyms:
   desirous, disposed, eager, favorable, inclined, willing

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. reluctant

   Synonyms:
   averse, unwilling, disinclined, loth, backward

   Antonyms:
   willing, inclined, eager, forward

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:3.7 / 3 votes

1. loath, loth, reluctantadjective

   unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom

   "a reluctant smile"; "loath to admit a mistake"

   Synonyms:
   loth(p), indisposed(p), loath, loath(p), averse(p), loth, antipathetic, antipathetical

   Antonyms:
   eager, inclined(p), willing

2. reluctantadjective

   disinclined to become involved

   "they were usually reluctant to socialize"; "reluctant to help"

   Synonyms:
   loth, loath

   Antonyms:
   willing, eager, inclined(p)

3. reluctantadjective

   not eager

   "foreigners stubbornly reluctant to accept our ways"; "fresh from college and reluctant for the moment to marry him"

   Synonyms:
   loth, loath

   Antonyms:
   eager, inclined(p), willing

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. reluctantadjective

   Synonyms:
   unwilling, loath, averse, backward, disinclined, indisposed, not disposed

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:3.0 / 1 vote

1. reluctantadjective

   Synonyms:
   disinclined, unwilling, averse, loath, indisposed

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "reluctant":

   unwilling, reticent, hesitant, loath, recalcitrant, resistant, refractory

How to pronounce reluctant?

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How to use reluctant in a sentence?

1. Zhao Lijian:

   U.S. airlines are facing severe staff shortages as flight crews are reluctant to go on duty due to fear of COVID-19 infection, which has led to widespread cancellations of domestic and international flights in the U.S., the Chinese diplomatic and consular missions in the U.S. are in communication with relevant airlines to understand the specific technical issues involved and explore solutions so as to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

2. Tyrone Parker:

   The culture of our communities has been reluctant to support or work with the police by virtue of the treatment and the behavior that has occurred within our community, there's a distrust. It has developed into a code of conduct within our communities.

3. Julie Cole:

   If your kid is a strong, independent older teen who does not get swayed by peers, chances are they are going to respect the family home, and it won't get destroyed in a house party, if your teenager has friends who are a bit on the cheeky side, and your child seems to be a bit of a follower, I would be reluctant to leave them alone.

4. Lisa Sharkey:

   Yesterday I was really reluctant to say anything publicly about how upsetting it was to be in Nordstrom and see these pajamas, which look extremely similar to what the concentration camp prisoners at Auschwitz and other camps were forced to wear during the Holocaust. But then I realized that if I do n’t say something, maybe nobody will say anything.

5. Jeff Levin-Scherz:

   Employers are reluctant to pass more cost sharing onto employees because it's been a bad time, and they know that, and they are looking to be sure they can recruit the people they need.