reluctant
247
3.5
- adjective
- /rɪˈlʌktənt/
:
reacio a
- Also, the government is currently reluctant to step into the internal struggles between schools.
- initially reluctant
- reluctant to accept
- reluctant to talk
What are the other reasons you're reluctant to endorse Trump?
- What are the other reasons you're reluctant to endorse Trump?
- So people were quite reluctant to believe in these things.
- But he always sort of, he was reluctant to give that up.
- And she was reluctant to sign the parental order.
- So you know, they're extremely reluctant to do that.
- The police are reluctant to pursue investigations.
- But for now, they've still got Alise, who they'll be reluctant to lose.
- So up until now I've been, you know, reluctant to recommend specific supplement brands.
- But the usual way of teaching science makes students reluctant to guess.
- Like we see people who are incredibly reluctant to discuss the kind of money that they have.
- And I understand why they, they were reluctant to open up again after lockdown.
- However, as time went on, those who remain trauma bonded would be reluctant to leave the relationship.
- But this is Riley Thorne and the Dead Guy Next Door, a reluctant psychic romantic comedy.
- Like I'm a very reluctant leader.
- I often hear from men that they are now more reluctant to go to a woman in a bar or whatever.
Examples
-
Yet, nowadays she seemed extra tired in the mornings, reluctant to get out of bed.
Fiction book (1990) -
But he always sort of, he was reluctant to give that up.
-
So people were quite reluctant to believe in these things.
-
So when you ask me about that, I was reluctant to say anything about that.
-
You have been reluctant to discuss the night of the crime.
-
Students in both schools were reluctant to answer questions in the focus group.
Academic text (2011) -
But the usual way of teaching science makes students reluctant to guess.
-
And she was reluctant to sign the parental order.
-
Baroness Rodmilla was quite reluctant to talk about it.
-
He was reluctant to speak up during the meeting because he felt his ideas were not valued.
Synonyms
139
3.4
Not wanting to do something and doing it only because you must
73
3.2
Slow to act or speak because you feel unsure
26
6.4
A person who strongly dislikes something and tries to avoid it
12
6.9
Not willing to do something
5
6.4
Not willing to do something because you do not really want to
4
3.9
Not showing much interest or excitement
1
7.0
Not wanting to give praise or approval but doing it anyway
Not willing to do something
Not willing to do something
Antonyms
Compounds
How Reluctant
Surface Forms
Morphology
reluctant = reluct + ant
The stem 'reluct' is not a standalone English word and the Latin-derived suffix '-ant' does not make the meaning 'unwilling' obvious to an average B1 learner.
Etymology
Reluctant comes from Latin parts re- ('back') and luctare ('to struggle'), so it originally meant to 'struggle back'. That's why a reluctant person 'pulls back' and is unwilling or hesitant to do something.