reluctant

/ɹɪˈlʌktənt/

adj 3

Collocations

(adj.)

VERBS

appear, be, feel, look, seem

My brother seemed reluctant to try the new restaurant, so we went to his favorite place instead.

become | remain

ADV

decidedly, deeply, extremely, remarkably, very | increasingly | a little, rather, somewhat | apparently | clearly

curiously, strangely

He seemed strangely reluctant to accept the job offer despite needing the money.

understandably

My teenager was understandably reluctant to admit that she had broken the car window.

notoriously

The old factory owner was notoriously reluctant to invest in new technology.

Definitions

adj

Not wanting to take some action; unwilling to do something.

She was reluctant to lend him the money

Surprisingly, our new dog is a reluctant ball-retriever.

Contrary; defiant; refractory.

Whence we must infer, that the least stir of tumult or rebellion against the Prince is reluctant to all the Ordinances of Heaven, is an abortive product of Hell against the pure dictates of nature […]

If pride be allowed to cause you to envy or wound the characters of such as differ from, or outshine you, or to make you reluctant to Christian reproof from your inferiors, how fearful is your guilt and danger!

Tending to match as little text as possible.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

adjective — unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

Example Bank

She was reluctant to lend him the money

Wiktionary

Surprisingly, our new dog is a reluctant ball-retriever.

Wiktionary

They are reluctant to the inclusion of a necessity test, especially of a horizontal nature, and emphasize, instead, the importance of procedural disciplines [...].

Wiktionary

Too long a holiday makes one reluctant to start work again.

Tatoeba · #19839

Some soldiers were reluctant to obey the commands.

Tatoeba · #43818

The mother was reluctant to leave her children alone.

Tatoeba · #44054

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, reluctant is marked as archaic. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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