reluctant

UK: /rɪˈlʌktənt/ US: /rɪˈlʌktənt/ ,(ri luk′tənt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•luc•tant /rɪˈlʌktənt/   adj. 

1. unwilling;
   not inclined to do something:
   a reluctant candidate.
2. marked by hesitation or slowness because of unwillingness:
   a reluctant promise.

re•luc•tance, n. [uncountable]
re•luc•tant•ly, adv.: 

He agreed reluctantly.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•luc•tant  (ri luk′tənt), adj. 

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

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

re•luc′tant•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 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.

Antonyms

• 1. willing.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

reluctant / rɪˈlʌktənt/ adjective

1. not eager; unwilling; disinclined

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin reluctārī to resist; see reluct

reˈluctantly adverb