51Թ

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View synonyms for

reluctant

[ri-luhk-tuhnt]

adjective

  1. unwilling; disinclined.

    a reluctant candidate.

    Antonyms:
  2. struggling in opposition.



reluctant

/ ɪˈʌəԳ /

adjective

  1. not eager; unwilling; disinclined

  2. archaicoffering resistance or opposition

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • reluctantly adverb
  • half-reluctant adjective
  • unreluctant adjective
  • ˈܳٲԳٱ adverb
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of reluctant1

First recorded in 1655–65; from Latin reluctant- (stem of ܳԲ ), present participle of ܳī; reluct, -ant
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of reluctant1

C17: from Latin ܳī to resist; see reluct
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Synonym Study

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.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"Denmark has been reluctant to make this shift from having a very transatlantic security strategy to a more European strategy," assesses Gad, but that's changed in recent months.

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Most district attorneys are reluctant to prosecute unless there are “multiple cases and hundreds of dollars in losses,” she said.

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Dorn is a prolific author of three novels and a memoir, “Bad Lawyer,” where she divulges secrets from her past life as a reluctant lawyer trying to meet her family’s expectations.

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"This is particularly challenging when parents are reluctant and resistant to engage, which in this situation took the focus away from the safety of this little boy until tragically it was far too late."

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Mr Varvill knew the business had to raise more funds towards the end of 2024 but big investors were reluctant to jump on board.

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