What does reluctant mean?
Definitions for reluctant
rɪˈlʌk təntre·luc·tant
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word reluctant.
Princeton's WordNet
loath, loth, reluctantadjective
unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom
"a reluctant smile"; "loath to admit a mistake"
reluctantadjective
disinclined to become involved
"they were usually reluctant to socialize"; "reluctant to help"
reluctantadjective
not eager
"foreigners stubbornly reluctant to accept our ways"; "fresh from college and reluctant for the moment to marry him"
Wiktionary
reluctantadjective
Opposing; offering resistance (to).
reluctantadjective
Not wanting to take some action; unwilling.
She was reluctant to lend him the money
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
Reluctantadjective
Unwilling; acting with repugnance.
Etymology: reluctans, Lat.
Reluctant; but in vain! a greater pow’r
Now rul’d him. John Milton, Paradise Lost, b. x.Some refuge in the muse’s art I found;
Reluctant now I touch’d the trembling string
Bereft of him, who taught me how to sing. Thomas Tickell.
ChatGPT
reluctant
Reluctant refers to being unwilling or hesitant to do something, generally arising from fear, dislike or unwillingness. It expresses a lack of enthusiasm or resistance towards a particular action or situation.
Webster Dictionary
Reluctantadjective
striving against; opposed in desire; unwilling; disinclined; loth
Reluctantadjective
proceeding from an unwilling mind; granted with reluctance; as, reluctant obedience
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Reluctant
rē-luk′tant, adj. struggling or striving against: unwilling: disinclined.—v.i. Rēluct′, to make resistance.—ns. Reluc′tance, Reluc′tancy, state of being reluctant: unwillingness.—adv. Reluc′tantly.—v.i. Reluc′tāte, to be reluctant.—n. Reluctā′tion, repugnance. [L. reluctans, -antis, pr.p. of reluctāri—re-, against, luctāri, to struggle.]
British National Corpus
Spoken Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'reluctant' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #4395
Adjectives Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'reluctant' in Adjectives Frequency: #595
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of reluctant in Chaldean Numerology is: 6
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of reluctant in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6
Examples of reluctant in a Sentence
The Istanbul Feminist Collective:
(M)ost of the discussions do not give any hope of improvement in this respect because political actors or groups, the government in particular, are reluctant to recognize their responsibility in Ozgecan’s murder.
You have spent many lives and much treasure to bring freedom to many lands that were reluctant to receive it. And here you have a people who won it by themselves and need only the help to preserve it.
Don't ever feel reluctant to make contributions,they might have said it all,but they can't say it exactly the way you would.
When Laura Poitras asked me if she could film our encounters, I was extremely reluctant, i'm grateful that I allowed her to persuade me. The result is a brave and brilliant film that deserves the honor and recognition it has received.
Life's splendor forever lies in wait about each one of us in all its fullness, but veiled from view, deep down, invisible, far off. It is there, though, not hostile, not reluctant, not deaf. If you summon it by the right word, by its right name, it will come.
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Translations for reluctant
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- ممانعArabic
- neochotný, zdráhajícíCzech
- widerwillig, zögerndGerman
- renuente, reacioSpanish
- haluton, vastahakoinenFinnish
- réfractaire, rétif, réticent, réservéFrench
- aindeònach, leisgScottish Gaelic
- neuwooiagh, neuarryltaghManx
- kelletlenHungarian
- reluctanteInterlingua
- engganIndonesian
- riluttanteItalian
- מסרבHebrew
- 싫어하는Korean
- invītusLatin
- whakawhēuaua, whakakumu, manauheaMāori
- motvilligNorwegian
- aarzelendDutch
- motvillig, motviljugNorwegian Nynorsk
- niechętnyPolish
- relutantePortuguese
- prevăzătorRomanian
- неохотныйRussian
- motvilligSwedish
- ہچکچاہٹUrdu
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"reluctant." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2023. Web. 24 Sep. 2023. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/reluctant>.
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