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
There had been suggestions that the team wanted to move Dončić partly because of a potential reluctance to sign a supermax extension with Dallas.
—
Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2025
Psychotherapist, author, and cofounder of the Women Are Mad (WAM) movement Jennifer Cox reports conflict reluctance is more common than ever.
—Samantha Mann, Vogue, 30 Jan. 2025
Congressional reluctance to take a clear stand on the prevention of human trafficking has been underscored by its failure to reauthorize the latest iteration of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, which has been languishing for more than three years despite bipartisan claims of support for it.
—Lori L. Cohen, New York Daily News, 28 Jan. 2025
Military commanders, however, have described a deliberate attempt to seize the legislature that was thwarted by hundreds of civilians and legislative staff who helped lawmakers enter the assembly, and by the troops’ reluctance or refusal to follow Yoon’s orders.
—Kim Tong-Hyung, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reluctance
Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2025
Psychotherapist, author, and cofounder of the Women Are Mad (WAM) movement Jennifer Cox reports conflict reluctance is more common than ever.
—Samantha Mann, Vogue, 30 Jan. 2025
Congressional reluctance to take a clear stand on the prevention of human trafficking has been underscored by its failure to reauthorize the latest iteration of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, which has been languishing for more than three years despite bipartisan claims of support for it.
—Lori L. Cohen, New York Daily News, 28 Jan. 2025
Military commanders, however, have described a deliberate attempt to seize the legislature that was thwarted by hundreds of civilians and legislative staff who helped lawmakers enter the assembly, and by the troops’ reluctance or refusal to follow Yoon’s orders.
—Kim Tong-Hyung, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reluctance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reluctance
Noun
-
There’s a fight ahead, and Jacob’s hesitancy to accept the changing times likely won’t be his ally in it.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2025
-
Zoom out: The effort comes as some Republicans express hesitancy about Chavez-DeRemer.—
Stef W. Kight,
Axios,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Fisher expressed reticence to discuss the investigation, opting to not mention Miller by name.—
Matt Rybaltowski,
Forbes,
25 Nov. 2024
-
Sadly, in practice, a long holiday hangover tends to limit new releases; platforms’ reticence to compete for attention with an inevitable regime-change media frenzy could also be a factor this year.—
Judy Berman,
TIME,
31 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
In 2019, when recounting that milestone from her own perspective, McCaskey first recalled the sharp anxiety leading up to the game and her hesitance to answer any of the league’s logistical questions about preparing for the trophy presentation ceremony.—
Dan Wiederer,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2025
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Intelligence officials are likely to be concerned about the long-term effect that Trump’s policies will have on their agencies’ roles and authorities, leading to caution and hesitance that harm operational effectiveness.—
Peter Schroeder,
Foreign Affairs,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
There is no doubt that Russia has vast troves of oil and natural gas, but an effort to lure American or other Western energy companies to undertake Russian projects is likely to encounter skepticism, not least because of the companies' recent history in Russia.—
Stanley Reed,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2025
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An initial eight: There was little doubt about Spoelstra playing this one for keeps.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
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
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Durant’s disinclination to play for the Warriors doesn’t necessarily prohibit them from trading for him.—
Danny Emerman,
The Mercury News,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Republican support But other Republicans had no hesitation in backing her.—
David Lightman,
Sacramento Bee,
12 Feb. 2025
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Additionally, Butler had initial hesitation in going to the Bay.—
Kristan Hawkins,
Newsweek,
6 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reluctance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reluctance. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
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