reluctant

[ ri-luhk-tuhnt ]
/ rɪˈlʌk tənt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR reluctant ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

unwilling; disinclined: a reluctant candidate.
struggling in opposition.

Origin of reluctant

1655–65; < Latin reluctant- (stem of reluctāns), present participle of reluctārī. See reluct, -ant

SYNONYMS FOR reluctant

1 Reluctant, loath, averse describe disinclination toward something. Reluctant implies some sort of mental struggle, as between disinclination and sense of duty: reluctant to expel students. Loath describes extreme disinclination: loath to part from a friend. Averse, used with to and a noun or a gerund, describes a long-held dislike or unwillingness, though not a particularly strong feeling: averse to an idea; averse to getting up early.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR reluctant ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM reluctant

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH reluctant

reluctant reticent (see synonym study at the current entry) reticent reluctant

Words nearby reluctant

relocation costs, relocator, relucent, reluct, reluctance, reluctant, reluctate, reluctivity, relume, relumine, rely

Words related to reluctant

slow, uncertain, hesitant, wary, shy, loath, cautious, circumspect, averse, squeamish, afraid, backward, calculating, chary, diffident, discouraged, disinclined, hesitating, indisposed, involuntary

Example sentences from the Web for reluctant

British Dictionary definitions for reluctant

reluctant
/ (rɪˈlʌktənt) /

adjective

not eager; unwilling; disinclined
archaic offering resistance or opposition

Derived forms of reluctant

reluctantly, adverb

Word Origin for reluctant

C17: from Latin reluctārī to resist; see reluct