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

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How to use reluctant in a sentence?

1. Betty Long:

   That's why they are reluctant to leave.

2. Donald Trump:

   If the North Koreans say,' Well, hey, they only stayed within this agreement for a couple of years,' then they'll be more reluctant to sign on the dotted line, in particular to do what we're wanting them to do, and that's denuclearize.

3. United States:

   I am very confident President Trump was not reluctant.

4. Mark Lynas:

   It can not be entirely coincidental that many of those reluctant to attend COP in person happen to lead countries that are high emitters or producers of fossil fuels.

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.