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. Mitt Romney:

   I've been reluctant from the beginning trying to advise House Democratic on how they should proceed, now that the speaker has scheduled a vote on the impeachment inquiry, I think the issue has been over taken by events.

2. 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.

3. Elizabeth Ferris:

   Governments are reluctant to think about planned relocations because everyone wants to stay where they are.

4. Bob McNally:

   The main reason oil investors are and have been reluctant to invest – I would say 80% of it, has to do with these fundamental issues, it’s not because Joe Biden said there’s no [new] leasing. The political factor is there, but it’s not the main reason holding them back.

5. Chris Edelson:

   Chief Justice Roberts seems to be in many cases taking a cautious approach deferential to the legislature, on health care and in his dissent on the marriage case, Roberts was reluctant to disturb decisions by elected officials.