reluctant
adjective
re·luc·tant
ri-ˈlək-tənt 
Examples of reluctant in a Sentence
94% of the butterflies are females, and they jostle for the attention of the few males, who seem reluctant suitors.
—
Carl Zimmer, Science, 11 May 2001
When I missed five in a row and was reluctant to take the next shot or didn't really follow through, my teammates would yell, "Brick!"
—Bill Bradley, New York Times, 18 Dec. 1994
The man swore sullenly. He went over to a corner and slowly began to put on his coat. He took his hat and went out, with a dragging, reluctant step.
—Stephen Crane, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, 1893
The woman seemed desirous, yet reluctant, to speak, and answered, in low, mysterious tone.
—Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin, 1852
We were reluctant to get involved.
He might agree but seems reluctant to admit it.
Carl Zimmer, Science, 11 May 2001
When I missed five in a row and was reluctant to take the next shot or didn't really follow through, my teammates would yell, "Brick!"
—Bill Bradley, New York Times, 18 Dec. 1994
The man swore sullenly. He went over to a corner and slowly began to put on his coat. He took his hat and went out, with a dragging, reluctant step.
—Stephen Crane, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, 1893
The woman seemed desirous, yet reluctant, to speak, and answered, in low, mysterious tone.
—Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin, 1852
We were reluctant to get involved.
He might agree but seems reluctant to admit it.
Recent Examples on the Web
Elsewhere in the country, too, state agencies and providers that rely on SAMHSA funding and technical support are feeling isolated, lost and reluctant to reach out to the federal staff left at the agency, says Dr. Eric Rafla-Yuan, a psychiatrist in San Diego, Calif.
—Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR, 6 June 2025
Jobless claims — a proxy for layoffs — still remain low by historical standards, suggesting that employers are reluctant to cut staff despite uncertainty over Trump’s policies.
—Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025
Conference and school officials have been reluctant to comment about the mediation — or anything else, for that matter — given the sensitive nature of the negotiations.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2025
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff — who has previously held an interest in signing Verstappen and is friendly with the Dutchman’s father — also seemed reluctant to say too much about the incident without being aware of the full context.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for reluctant
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Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR, 6 June 2025
Jobless claims — a proxy for layoffs — still remain low by historical standards, suggesting that employers are reluctant to cut staff despite uncertainty over Trump’s policies.
—Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025
Conference and school officials have been reluctant to comment about the mediation — or anything else, for that matter — given the sensitive nature of the negotiations.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2025
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff — who has previously held an interest in signing Verstappen and is friendly with the Dutchman’s father — also seemed reluctant to say too much about the incident without being aware of the full context.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for reluctant
Cite this Entry
“Reluctant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reluctant. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reluctant
adjective
re·luc·tant
ri-ˈlək-tənt
: showing doubt or unwillingness
reluctant to answer
reluctantly
adverb
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